Melrose, a good community? (Boston, Cambridge: apartment, renting, house)

[495neighbor]

I am curious about and have been exploring Melrose as a possible place to relocate. Could someone tell me what the community is like there? What are some fun things to do there?

[bostonguy1960]

Not sure, but it seems pleasant when I drive thru, and I like the small downtown. They may still have a weekly newspaper. Check their library for past issues if you live in the Boston area, and spend an afternoon looking through them for community events, news and photos.

Also, the Globe publishes a North section on Thursdays and Sundays. I'm sure they've written an occasional article on the town.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Not sure, but it seems pleasant when I drive thru, and I like the small downtown. They may still have a weekly newspaper. Check their library for past issues if you live in the Boston area, and spend an afternoon looking through them for community events, news and photos.

Also, the Globe publishes a North section on Thursdays and Sundays. I'm sure they've written an occasional article on the town.

@bostonguy, thanks for the reply.

[kingeorge]

Melrose is popular with younger families and people who are priced out of Cambridge, West Somerville, Belmont, etc.. It has great commuting options to Boston and pleasant downtown. Some older threads were trying to address schools quality and if Melrose is still little "too towny" for outsiders. I am not from there, and all the knowledge I have about Melrose is from various sources that might/might not be accurate. Schools are OK nothing spectacular, and openness to new residents--not sure. I suspect is like any place around here.
Hope it helps you. Try to dig some older stuff, plenty of opinions.

[bostonguy1960]

Not sure if you want a house or apartment.

I'm guessing it's mostly white folks, but I could be wrong; I was told this year that adjacent Stoneham is almost still entirely white.

Since Melrose borders Malden and its high Chinese population (and some Indian in recent years), perhaps it's not as "townie" as it may have been years ago. The previous poster mentioned the "townie" term, but I don't know enough about the town.

I drive a cab in Boston and get an occasional young professional or family man frm the airport or financial district to Melrose. As I said, I like most of the town.

There are some older and dumpier style apts. near Main Street, so that may be a bit riffraff for some.
At least it's near the Middlesex Fells Reservation, the zoo and pond in Stonehsm, etc. Square One Mall is near in Saugus, and all the Rt. 1 restaurants and shopping.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Not sure if you want a house or apartment.

I'm guessing it's mostly white folks, but I could be wrong; I was told this year that adjacent Stoneham is almost still entirely white.

Since Melrose borders Malden and its high Chinese population (and some Indian in recent years), perhaps it's not as "townie" as it may have been years ago. The previous poster mentioned the "townie" term, but I don't know enough about the town.

I drive a cab in Boston and get an occasional young professional or family man frm the airport or financial district to Melrose. As I said, I like most of the town.

There are some older and dumpier style apts. near Main Street, so that may be a bit riffraff for some.
At least it's near the Middlesex Fells Reservation, the zoo and pond in Stonehsm, etc. Square One Mall is near in Saugus, and all the Rt. 1 restaurants and shopping.

An apartment will likely be where I would end up at first, renting and then buying a small SFH, if the town I land in proves to be a good fit for me. Riffraff, I don't see too many ruffians when I have visited. I have noticed a number of forlorn people wandering around Main Street especially at the Wyoming Street end, sitting on park benches by themselves and teenage mothers, possibly some people with mental health or substance abuse issues?

[bostonguy1960]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Riffraff, I don't see too many ruffians when I have visited. I have noticed a number of forlorn people wandering around Main Street especially at the Wyoming Street end, sitting on park benches by themselves and teenage mothers, possibly some people with mental health or substance abuse issues?

I guess "riffraff" (sp?) has different eanings to different people.

I didn't realize it may have "forlorn" and "teenage mothers" in town. I don't drive through often enough, it seems.

I guess I was referring to cheap 1960s-style apts. off Wyoming near the Richfield convenience store. They actually had an armed robbery, I think, a few months ago that made the local tv news. Those apts. seemed to be types with lots of abandoned shopping carts nearby, never a good sign. But I guess that's a very small portion of town, so likely not a big deal.

Ch. 5's Chronicle had a segment last year on local Irish bakeries and services, and profiled a new Melrose bakery where the entire family seems to all pitch in. I plan to drop in.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

I guess "riffraff" (sp?) has different eanings to different people.

I didn't realize it may have "forlorn" and "teenage mothers" in town. I don't drive through often enough, it seems.

I guess I was referring to cheap 1960s-style apts. off Wyoming near the Richfield convenience store. They actually had an armed robbery, I think, a few months ago that made the local tv news. Those apts. seemed to be types with lots of abandoned shopping carts nearby, never a good sign. But I guess that's a very small portion of town, so likely not a big deal.

Ch. 5's Chronicle had a segment last year on local Irish bakeries and services, and profiled a new Melrose bakery where the entire family seems to all pitch in. I plan to drop in.

Bostonguy, now that you mention it, I noticed many abandoned shopping carts in the parking lots behind the Main Street shops. I hadn't heard about the armed robbery. I have read about the killing of the skateboard shop owner in Malden. I wouldn't negatively judge either of these towns based on those incidents. Acton has had several armed robberies, a recent assault on a woman at the train station, an infanticide and its fair share of crazies along with the prosperous, ambitious and everyone in between. I also have seen an abandoned shopping cart or two in my time here.

[495neighbor]

Originally Posted by kingeorge

Melrose is popular with younger families and people who are priced out of Cambridge, West Somerville, Belmont, etc.. It has great commuting options to Boston and pleasant downtown. Some older threads were trying to address schools quality and if Melrose is still little "too towny" for outsiders. I am not from there, and all the knowledge I have about Melrose is from various sources that might/might not be accurate. Schools are OK nothing spectacular, and openness to new residents--not sure. I suspect is like any place around here.
Hope it helps you. Try to dig some older stuff, plenty of opinions.

I am fine with a mix of townie and new people. I find when the last townie leaves a town, the town becomes every other town.

[kingeorge]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

I am fine with a mix of townie and new people. I find when the last townie leaves a town, the town becomes every other town.

Nothing against as well, unless you need to make friends and then can be tough to break in. If you have kids, it is usually more important that your new community is inclusive and welcoming. That's all.