Melrose? (Boston, Lynn, Somerville: condos, houses, transfer)

[Katezli]

Thanks howsitgoing-- this is a helpful list. I am familiar with some of these towns (I grew up in MA), but not all of them. Affordability is the difficult part for us right now, but I am still hopeful that we will be able to find something that makes sense for us.
CityGirl, thanks for the Melrose info. From your post and those of others, it seems it should definitely stay on my list of good possibilities.
Lots to think about...

[dan2779]

If you're working in Boston, look no further (or closer) than Melrose; it's very safe, professionally-populated, and quite simply, the best town within reach of the subway into Boston. My advice: forget about living south of Boston, period; north or west should be the only options you consider. Forget about anything closer to Boston on the orange line (north to south into Boston), especially Malden, Somerville (especially East Somerville), and Everett; you'll find nothing but trouble in those areas, though they are better options than anything south (Roxbury, Dorchester, JP, Quincy, and Mattapan are all areas to avoid, generally speaking). Melrose is a safe bet, if you're either raising a family or commuting into Boston. There is also a commuter rail, but it's unnecessary from Melrose and costs $100 more per month. Stick with Melrose and the Orange Line (subway), and you'll be golden.

[Thruway]

Originally Posted by Katezli

We are planning to relocate to Massachusetts and I keep hearing about Melrose. From what I have heard, it seems like it might be a good fit for our family, but reading through the archives I came across this post from July, 2006 and now feel a little scared off. This description makes Melrose seem quite unappealing. Could people familiar with Melrose comment (copy of post below)? Or the original writer (I think Lolahbelle was the screen name) explain more... Thanks so much!

"many towns in boston are very progressive. i would stay away from townie hoods like melrose, medford, wakefield, stoneham (i live in melrose, it's 99% white and a lot of townies--meaning ppl who grew up here, married their HS sweetheart and never experienced life outside of MA or NEng)."

Boston metro area is compared to most other metro US cities, VERY white.

Most urban cities have a very large black population that sometimes is the majority, or combined with hispanics is.

Not in Boston.
They have blacks but they never, I suppose due to their Puritan past and Northern location, never had the influx other areas like NY and PHI in the north had.
Those who do live there normally it is like most cities, highly segregated but because less blacks and minorites live in Boston to begin with this only makes it seem more apparent.

If you really think about Bos is a white man's metro area, aside from a few segregated areas (Mattapan, Roxbury, Dorchester, East Boston) it's all white, segregated between Jews or wealthy people to W and NW, Irish, Italians, and whites on both the N and S of town.
It's segregated then by income, Melrose is to the N which is working class white.
The west is more wealthy, as is the NW, s can go both ways, but ALL are predomiantly white.

[deepblue]

I think Melrose is a good area in term of its relatively lower crime rate and many quaint little shops in its downtown area. However, if your are a non-Caucasian (especially if you are of Asian descent) then you need to think more before moving there because long-time Melrose residents are fiercely hostile to Asians (Regardless if you are a small business owner or a college professor you will be treated with the same sense of disdain). Just a honest observation about Melrose that is a well-known fact.

[redsoxwalking]

hi! i live in melrose! forget the fact that we're considering relocating south, that's just because the northeast is expensive and chilly - we may well stay right here. i am a big fan of melrose! i don't know what people could be referring to about people being nasty to non-townies or people of differing backgrounds. if you're expecting everyone you meet to be kindly, it's time to up your prozac dose. if you're friendly, you'll find other friendly folks quickly. great houses, unequalled downtown, great parks, close to boston but not too urban, i could go on. i just wouldn't recommend the public schools too highly, but i'm a fan of private schools. the other full-disclosure disadvantage melrose has is not a lot of industry in the tax base - it's nickname is 'city of homes' - so the residents carry the tax burden without much help from the commercial sector. that could be seen as an advantage too - melrose is a lovely quiet spot surrounded by more built-up areas. wakefield and stoneham are somewhat similar nearby towns if you're priced out of melrose. good luck!

[deegz]

Hi,
I have lived in Wakefield MA for over 25 yrs. It is a very nice town, great schools and nice people. It is the next town over from Melrose. If and when you relocate, I would recommend Wakefield over Melrose.
Deegz

[rankman]

Deegz,
Can you give some objective reasons that make Wakefield better than Melrose? My family has been renting for the past year in Belmont, which is a fantastic town but too expensive to buy a decent single-family home. My wife and I both work in the Harvard Square area, so we are looking to relocate somewhere more affordable that still has a decent driving commute to Cambridge.

We've looked at houses in both Wakefield and Melrose, and they both seem like nice towns. Wakefield seems a bit more affordable, but Melrose has a shorter commute.

We have two elementary-age children, so the quality of the public schools is a big concern as well. But the information I've gathered so far for the most part indicates that both towns have above average schools.

I'm very curious to hear a comparison from anybody who knows both towns well. Thanks!

[Annabelle]

I lived in Wakefield for 30 years so I guess I am biased towards it but having been to Melrose hundreds of times, the feeling to me is that Wakefield is more a of "town" and Melrose has more of a compact "city" feel to it. The populations are practically the same in the 24K-26K area but in land area, Melrose is smaller so it is more congested. Wakefield has 7.5 sq. miles with 3,291 people per sq. mi. and Melrose is only 4.7 sq. mi with 5,616 people per sq. mile. I'd suggest you spent a full day hanging out in each location to choose which one is the better fit for your lifestyle. Good luck!

[Katezli]

Thanks to everyone for these helpful comments. You've given me lots to think about...

[spartans]

Melrose is where Arlington was 10-15 years ago. As the Mass. economy becomes increasingly white collar, townies are pushed out of Mass. to the sunbelt (or, alternatively, at least 20+ miles from downtown if they can't leave mama) as the value of land inside 128 continues to outpace inflation long term (over the past 30-40 years). Melrose schools are good enough to attract breeding professionals who are priced out of Winchester or Arlington but don't want to live way out in subdivsion suburbia. Cute town center, walkable streets, more than half of the Town can walk to one of three commuter rail stops for a 13-18 min ride to N. Station. Townie eradication is a slow process, a generational process, but it is now irreversible. I say "townie" tongue in cheek here, as there are a lot of great ones who do great things for the community, including a great mayor right now. A super YMCA, for instance, is another institution for which you have to credit Melrose townies. However, if you survey anyone who has bought in Melrose since the last RE boom, nearly all are from outside Massachusetts.