How I helped first-time buyers make their first home a multifamily in Malden
Two first-time buyers wanted a home and an investment in one purchase. The work started months before the search, and it didn't end at closing.
Greater Boston · Town guide
Living in Malden, MA.
A diverse, close-in city with Orange Line and commuter rail stations and a large supply of two-families, often more affordable than its neighbors.
Malden at a glance
- Median single-family
- $725,000
- ▲ 0.7% vs. last year
- Median condo
- $430,000
- ▲ 2.4% vs. last year
- Days on market
- 35
- single-family, year to date
- Sale vs. original list
- 101.1%
- single-family, year to date
- Residential tax rate
- $11.40
- per $1,000, FY2026
- Population
- 66,693
- 2024 Census estimate, +0.6% since 2020
- To Boston
- 5 mi
- straight line to City Hall
- MBTA rail & ferry
- Commuter rail · Subway
Malden market · August 2026 year to date
The numbers, before the opinions.
| Measure | Single-family | Condo |
|---|---|---|
| Median sale price | $725,000 | $430,000 |
| Change vs. last year | ▲ 0.7% | ▲ 2.4% |
| Sales closed | 78 | 58 |
| Median days on market | 35 | 51 |
| Sale price vs. original list | 101.1% | 100.3% |
| For sale at month end | 25 | 14 |
| Months of supply | 2.3 | 2.0 |
Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Malden Local Market Update (PDF, opens in a new tab) (MLS PIN data). Year-to-date figures except homes for sale and months of supply, which are for the latest month. A town median is a starting point; the right price is street by street.
Side by side · August 2026 year to date
How does Malden compare with nearby towns?
| Town | Median single-family | Median condo | Days on market | Tax rate (FY2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malden | $725,000 ▲ 0.7% | $430,000 | 35 | $11.40 |
| Everett | $700,000 ▲ 3.3% | $465,000 | 38 | $12.62 |
| Medford | $900,000 ▼ 2.7% | $691,750 | 31 | $8.63 |
| Melrose | $989,370 ▼ 1.1% | $550,000 | 23 | $11.47 |
| Chelsea | $703,500 ▲ 11.5% | $472,500 | 29 | $11.48 |
| Somerville | $1,375,000 ▼ 10.7% | $865,000 | 47 | $10.98 |
Year-to-date medians from each town's MAR Local Market Update; tax rates per $1,000 from the Mass. Division of Local Services. Nearby = closest town centers among the towns I cover.
Town guide
What it's like to live in Malden.
What is it like to live in Malden?
Malden is a city on the Orange Line, which makes it one of the most transit-connected places north of Boston at its price point. Its housing mix, including many two- and three-families, makes it popular with first-time buyers and owner-occupant investors.
I've helped first-time buyers purchase a multifamily in Malden as their first home.
What are Malden's neighborhoods like?
A quick orientation, not a ranking:
| Area | What it's like | Worth a look if you want |
|---|---|---|
| Malden Center | Downtown with the Orange Line and commuter rail | Transit and city living |
| Maplewood | Neighborhood center with a mix of housing | A local square feel |
| Edgeworth | Older homes near the Mystic side | Proximity to Everett and Medford |
| Forestdale & Faulkner | Residential neighborhoods, more single-families | Quieter streets |
| Oak Grove | Near the northern end of the Orange Line | A quick subway commute |
What does housing look like in Malden?
Malden has single-families, many two- and three-families, and condos, including newer buildings near Malden Center. It's one of the more accessible places to buy an owner-occupied multifamily close to Boston.
How is the commute from Malden to Boston?
Malden has Orange Line stations at Malden Center and Oak Grove, and commuter rail at Malden Center on the Haverhill Line. Route 1 and I-93 are close by.
Where do people spend time in Malden?
- The Middlesex Fells on the city's edge
- Malden Center's restaurants
- Pine Banks Park
What should buyers and sellers know about Malden?
- Proximity to the Orange Line strongly affects value.
- Many multifamilies are older; inspect systems and porches carefully.
- Lead paint rules matter when renting to families with young children.
For public school information, see the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's school and district profiles (Malden Public Schools).
Questions people actually ask.
Is Malden a good place for first-time buyers?
It has Orange Line access and a large supply of two-families, which makes owner-occupied multifamily purchases realistic for many first-time buyers.
Does Malden have the Orange Line?
Yes, at Malden Center and Oak Grove.
MBTA stations in Malden
- Commuter rail: Malden Center, Oak Grove (Haverhill Line)
- Subway: Malden Center, Oak Grove
Monthly cost calculator
What would a Malden home cost per month?
Pre-filled with Malden's median single-family price and its FY2026 tax rate. Change anything. This is an estimate for planning, not a loan quote.
How I help in Malden
Three ways to start.
Buy in Malden
What homes here actually sell for, what they cost to own, and an offer strategy you can defend.
Buying with XavierSell in Malden
A price grounded in Malden sales, a plan for what to fix, and a clear read on every offer.
Get a home valuationInvest in Malden
Two- and three-families run as numbers: rents, expenses, financing, and condition.
Multifamily & investingQuick answers about Malden.
What is the median home price in Malden, MA?
The median single-family sale price in Malden was $725,000 for August 2026 year to date, compared with $720,000 for the same period a year earlier. The median condo sold for $430,000. Source: Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MLS PIN data).
How fast are homes selling in Malden?
Single-family homes that sold in Malden during August 2026 year to date spent a median of about 35 days on market and sold for 101.1% of their original list price on average, according to MAR.
What is the property tax rate in Malden, MA?
Malden's FY2026 residential property tax rate is $11.40 per $1,000 of assessed value (Massachusetts Division of Local Services). On a home assessed at the median single-family sale price, that's roughly $8,260 a year; your actual bill depends on the assessed value.
Is there public transit from Malden to Boston?
Yes. MBTA service in Malden: commuter rail: Malden Center, Oak Grove (Haverhill Line); subway: Malden Center, Oak Grove. Check the MBTA's current schedules for times.
Case studies from Malden.
MLS listings
Malden homes for sale right now.
Active and coming-soon listings in Malden, through my Ruuster home search. Save a search to hear about new ones as they come on.
Search provided by Ruuster via HomeBase. Open the full Malden search in a new tab (opens in a new tab). Listing information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Buying or selling here?
Interested in Malden?
Tell me what you're weighing: a street, a price range, a timeline. I'll send the recent sales that matter and what I'd watch for in Malden specifically.
More Greater Boston towns
- Boston
- Cambridge
- Somerville
- Brookline
- Medford
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- Melrose
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- Winchester
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- All towns
Sources: market figures, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®, Local Market Update (data: MLS PIN; © ShowingTime Plus); tax rate, Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Municipal Databank, Tax Rates by Class; population, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates for cities and towns; stations, MBTA (V3 API); distance, OpenStreetMap Nominatim (town center); miles are straight-line to Boston City Hall. Numbers retrieved 2026-09-25.