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Downtown MelrosePhoto: Grk1011/Stephen · CC BY-SA 3.0
Town Hall · Melrose

Melrose spent more per resident in 2022 than 82% of similar cities

Melrose’s city government spent $152.9 million on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, about $5,245 per resident. Water and other utilities ($6.4 million) are counted separately.

Town website
Election Day

Today

General election in Massachusetts.

Register or check: vote.gov ↗
Day-to-day spending, 2024
$152.9M
year to June 30, 2024
Per resident, 2024
$5,245
In 2022: $4,781, more than 82% of 22 similar cities
Long-term debt
$47.0M
end of FY2024, reported
City staff, 2022
586
full-time · 292 part-time · March payroll $4.9M · Census estimate
Typical tax bill
$7,578
0.92% of home value · MA 1.07%

What stands out about how Melrose is run

Read from the city’s budget, meetings and official records.

Agendas posted online6 upcoming meetings posted, with agendas.Spends more than most similar citiesIn 2022: $4,781 per resident, more than 82% of 22 similar cities.Runs its own schoolsThe schools are part of the city budget, not a separate district.Its own police and fire47 sworn officers and 55 full-time firefighters on the payroll.
★ What stands out · Meetings

6 upcoming meetings at town hall

From Melrose’s own agenda portal, checked daily. Agendas can change up to the meeting, so check before you go.

Recent meetings

  • Nov2
    Historical CommissionMonday · 7:00 pm · 562 Main Street, Cassidy Conference Room, 2nd FloorAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct30
    Board of Registrars of VotersFriday · 8:00 am · 562 Main Street, City Clerks officeAdvanced Removal for November ElectionMeeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Board of Registrars of VotersThursday · 8:00 am · 562 Main Street, City Clerks OfficeAdvanced Removal for November ElectionMeeting page ↗
  • Oct29
    Board of Registrars of VotersThursday · 562 Main Street, City Council Conference Room, 1st FloorAgenda ↗Meeting page ↗
  • Oct28
    School CommitteeWednesday · 5:30 pm · 562 Main Street, Cassidy Conference Room, 2nd FloorSchool Committee/Special MeetingAgenda ↗Minutes ↗Meeting page ↗
Go in person

Most meetings are open to the public, and many have a public comment period at the start.

Agenda portal ↗
Your share of the 2024 budget

About $5,245 per resident a year, or $14.37 a day

Schools are part of the city’s budget, so they lead the receipt: 50% of day-to-day spending.

Where the money comes from
Property taxes 59%From the state 17%Fees & charges 13%Utility sales 5%Interest, fines & other 4%From the federal government 2%Sales taxes 1%Other taxes & licenses <1%
Schools included

Melrose runs its own schools, so school spending is part of this budget. Comparisons are with Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

Not in the receipt.Building projects $23.9 million; interest on debt $1.4 million; payments to other governments $2.2 million. With these and the enterprises, the whole budget was $186.8 million.
About “Other”.26% of Melrose’s day-to-day spending ($40.5 million) is filed by the Census Bureau outside the named functions above, so the receipt can’t say what it buys.
Compared with similar places

$4,781 per resident in 2022: more than 82% of them

Melrose’s day-to-day spending in 2022 ($4,781 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools: the median was $4,168, and the middle half spent $3,816–$4,522. Melrose spent more than 82% of them.

Middle half of the group, $3,816–$4,522Median $4,168Melrose

Includes sewer and trash ($9.6 million), as the Census Bureau counts them. Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →

The group
22

Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Melrose itself left out).

Over the years

Day-to-day spending is up 15% since 2022

Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Melrose reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.

Day-to-day spending by fiscal year

2022$132.9 million
2023$142.6 million
2024$152.9 million

Per resident: 2022: $4,781 · 2023: $4,865 · 2024: $5,245. Per resident it went from $4,781 to $5,245 (up 10%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 27,790 to 29,155.

Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.

Property tax

The typical homeowner pays $7,578 a year

Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 0.92% of the home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts.

What homes cost →

Typical yearly bill next door and statewide

Wakefield$7,779
Melrose$7,578
Stoneham$6,523
Massachusetts$5,992
Malden$4,995
$7,578
typical bill a year
0.92%
effective rate
$822,900
typical home value (Census)
Your own bill

The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Melrose’s rate.

Can I afford it? →

The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate.

Tax bills are one input to Melrose’s Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Melrose →

Who runs it

Who’s in charge in Melrose

Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.

See cityofmelrose.org for Melrose’s current officialsWe name an official only when a public source lists a current term. None does for Melrose yet.cityofmelrose.org ↗
Who works for Melrose

One full-time city employee for every 50 residents

On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll (a Census estimate). Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (29,155).

By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022

Schools340 + 209 pt
Fire57
Police49 + 2 pt
Parks & libraries30 + 36 pt
Administration & buildings28 + 2 pt
Health & welfare15 + 12 pt
Water & other utilities11
Housing & development3 + 2 pt
Courts, inspections & corrections3
Sewer & trash2
Other48 + 29 pt
586
full-time
292
part-time
$4.9M
payroll for March 2022
$58.9M
a year, estimated (March × 12)
$90,800
average full-time pay, before benefits (March × 12)
47
sworn police officers
55
full-time firefighters
Estimates.Melrose didn’t report its staff figures; these are the Census Bureau’s estimates, so they aren’t compared with other towns.

The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.

The school district

Melrose School District

Melrose’s K–12 school district. The schools are run by Melrose, so this money is part of the budget above.

Schools in Melrose →
$17,627
per pupil · MA $26,530
3,892
students
None
long-term debt

Of the $17,627 per pupil, $10,852 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.

The district: schools, scores and graduation →

Where the district’s money comes from
Local 68%State 28%Federal 4%

Massachusetts districts overall: 49% local, 43% state, 8% federal.

School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.

Elections · 2024 general election

How Melrose voted in 2024

Official results for Melrose’s own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.

President17,117 votes · results as certified
Kamala D HarrisKamala D HarrisDemocrat70.3%12,041 votes
Donald J TrumpDonald J TrumpRepublican26.8%4,579 votes

Others: 2.9% (497 votes).

Most votes in Melrose: Kamala D Harris

Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9% · Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%

Turnout
79%

of Melrose’s 21,717 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Massachusetts: 67%.

Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).

U.S. Senate16,779 votes
Elizabeth Ann WarrenDemocrat67.8%
John DeatonRepublican32.0%
Others0.2%

Most votes in Melrose: Elizabeth Ann Warren

Middlesex County: Warren 66.5%, Deaton 33.3% · Massachusetts: Warren 59.8%, Deaton 40.0%

U.S. House · Massachusetts’s 5th District291,890 votes
Katherine M ClarkDemocrat98.2%
All Others1.8%

Most votes in the district: Katherine M Clark

Whole-district result

President, 2024: Melrose, its county and the state

HarrisTrumpOthersVotes
Melrose70.3%26.8%2.9%17,117
Middlesex County68.0%28.9%3.1%814,832
Massachusetts61.2%36.0%2.8%3,473,668
DemocratRepublicanLibertarianIndependent / other

Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.

Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.

Who represents Melrose

From town hall to Washington

Every level of government that speaks for Melrose.

2024 results ↑
  1. 1
    Your cityMayor & council
    Officials: cityofmelrose.org ↗
  2. 2
    Massachusetts HouseState representatives
    Kate Lipper-Garabedian
  3. 3
    Massachusetts SenateState senator
    Jason Lewis
  4. 4
    GovernorStatewide
    Maura Healey
  5. 5
    U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
    Katherine M. Clark
  6. 6
    U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Massachusetts
    Elizabeth WarrenEdward J. Markey

Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.

Next door

How Melrose compares with the towns next door

Melrose spent $4,781 per resident in 2022. Most of its neighbors are townships, a different kind of government, so the like-for-like comparison is with similar cities, above. Tap a town to see its page.

Wakefield: $4,755 per resident (2022)Malden: $3,258 per resident (2022)Stoneham: $3,616 per resident (2022)WakefieldMaldenStonehamMelrose
Spends the leastSpends the mostEstimate or no figures
TownDay-to-day, per resident (2022)Tax bill
Malden$3,258 runs schools$4,995
Stoneham$3,616 runs schools$6,523
Wakefield$4,755 runs schools$7,779
Melrose$4,781$7,578

Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).

Reach Melrose’s government

The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.

The Handbook →
Official websitecityofmelrose.org ↗

Questions about Melrose’s government

How much does Melrose spend per resident?

About $5,245 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to June 30, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $4,781 was more than 82% of 22 Massachusetts cities of 25,000–49,999 that run their own schools.

What is the property tax rate in Melrose?

Homeowners report a typical bill of $7,578 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 0.92% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.07% across Massachusetts. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see cityofmelrose.org.

Who runs Melrose’s government?

See cityofmelrose.org for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Melrose yet.

How did Melrose vote in 2024?

For president, Kamala D Harris 70.3%, Donald J Trump 26.8% (17,117 votes, official results). Middlesex County: Harris 68.0%, Trump 28.9%. Massachusetts: Harris 61.2%, Trump 36.0%.

How many people work for Melrose?

586 full-time and 292 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $4.9M (about $58.9M a year if every month were the same); Census Bureau estimates.

Who represents Melrose in the state legislature?

State Senate District Fifth Middlesex (Jason Lewis) and State House District 32nd Middlesex (Kate Lipper-Garabedian). The House district also covers parts of two neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.

When is the next public meeting in Melrose?

The next posted meeting is Beebe Estate Board of Trustees on Tuesday, November 3, at 7:00 pm in Beebe Estate, 235 West Foster Street, from the city’s own agenda portal.

Ask neighbors about Melrose’s government

Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.

Town Square →
Ask neighbors

Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →