First-time buyer programs
MassHousing sets its own income and price limits for Middlesex County. We check them with you before you shop.
MassHousing home loansLiving in Melrose, Massachusetts
Melrose is a city in Middlesex County about 7 miles north of Boston, bordered by the Middlesex Fells Reservation. It was incorporated as a town in 1850, set off from Malden, and became a city in 1900. Ell Pond, Swains Pond, and Towners Pond are among its notable water features.
Melrose at a glance
- $11.47Residential tax rate per $1,000, FY2026
- $9,787Average single-family tax bill, FY2026
- 15-25 minDrive to Boston
- MiddlesexCounty
Melrose's villages and zip codes
Melrose uses a single ZIP code, 02176, for the whole city.
| Area | Zip code | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Melrose | 02176 | Along Main Street near City Hall. |
| Melrose Highlands | 02176 | A neighborhood with its own MBTA Commuter Rail stop on the Haverhill Line. |
| Cedar Park | 02176 | A neighborhood near the Melrose/Cedar Park Commuter Rail station. |
| Wyoming | 02176 | A neighborhood near the Wyoming Hill Commuter Rail station. |
Things to do in Melrose, MA
Start with Pine Banks Park and Middlesex Fells Reservation.
Pine Banks Park
A 107.5-acre park shared between Melrose and Malden, designed in part by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and opened to the public in 1889. It has a children's playground, picnic areas, sports fields, a 400-meter track, the Mount Ephraim overlook, and forest trails.
See DeFalco Field entrance area, Melrose/Malden line
Middlesex Fells Reservation
A large state-owned reservation bordering Melrose with wooded trails, reservoirs, and rocky terrain, part of the Metropolitan Park System designed with input from Frederick Law Olmsted's firm.
Along Melrose's western border
A little history
The area now called Melrose was part of Charlestown starting in 1633 and then part of Malden from 1649 until it was set off and incorporated as its own town in 1850.
The name Melrose comes from the burgh of Melrose, Scotland, suggested by William Bogle, a Scottish resident of the area.
Melrose was incorporated as a city in 1900.
Parks, trails and outdoors in Melrose
Melrose borders the Middlesex Fells Reservation and shares the Olmsted-designed Pine Banks Park with neighboring Malden, giving the city wooded trails and open recreation space close to its neighborhoods.
- Pine Banks Park107.5 acres of trails, sports fields, a track, and an overlook shared with Malden.
- Middlesex Fells ReservationState reservation with wooded trails and reservoirs bordering the city.
- Ell PondA pond in Melrose with a path used for walking.
Walkability and getting around Melrose
Downtown Melrose along Main Street has sidewalks connecting shops, restaurants, and the Commuter Rail station, making the city center and surrounding neighborhoods more walkable than many suburbs in the area.
Drive times
- Boston, about 7 miles15-25 min
- Logan International Airport, about 12 miles20-30 min
Approximate, without traffic.
By bus or train
Melrose has three MBTA Commuter Rail stops on the Haverhill Line: Melrose Highlands, Melrose/Cedar Park, and Wyoming Hill. MBTA bus routes 131, 132, and 137 serve the city, and the Orange Line is accessible via Oak Grove station in neighboring Malden.
Melrose property taxes
Melrose's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.47 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $20.61. Massachusetts assesses homes at full value, so each $100,000 of assessed value costs about $1,147 a year. The average single-family tax bill was $9,787, on an average assessed value of $853,264.
Melrose's FY2026 tax rates
$11.47per $1,000, residential
- Residential$11.47 per $1,000
- Commercial, industrial, personal property$20.61 per $1,000
- Average single-family assessed value$853,264
- Average single-family tax bill$9,787
- Motor vehicle excise (statewide)$25 per $1,000 of value
Source: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
How the residential rate has changed
| Fiscal year | Residential rate |
|---|---|
| FY2022 | $10.57 |
| FY2023 | $10.42 |
| FY2024 | $9.93 |
| FY2025 | $9.90 |
| FY2026 | $11.47 |
Look up a Melrose property
- FEMA flood mapWhether a lender will require flood insurance
- City ClerkVital records and town records
- Assessors' officeQuestions about a value
- Registry of DeedsDeeds and mortgages for the county
Buying a home in Melrose
What we check on a Melrose purchase: MassHousing limits, the flood map, the smoke certificate.
Check the flood zone first
Flood zones are set address by address. We check FEMA's map before you offer.
FEMA's flood map for MelroseSmoke and CO certificate
Massachusetts requires the seller to get a smoke and carbon monoxide certificate from the Melrose Fire Department before the sale closes.
Melrose Fire Department pageAll loans are subject to credit approval, underwriting, and property and program requirements. MassHousing limits and eligibility are set by MassHousing and change from time to time.
Thinking about buying in Melrose?
We're licensed in Massachusetts. Send us a Melrose address and we'll run the numbers, taxes included.
Moving to Melrose: utilities, trash and city hall
Who to call in Melrose.
- Trash and recyclingMelrose's Department of Public Works collects trash, recycling, and yard waste/compost curbside. The DPW also runs the City Yard drop-off facility for yard waste and recycling.
- Registry of Motor VehiclesUpdate your address with the RMV within 30 days. Excise tax goes to the city or town where the car is garaged.Mass. RMV
City Yard (DPW Recycling Center)
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 7:30am-2:45pm; Saturdays (April-December) 8:00am-3:00pm
Transfer station detailsCity Hall offices and contacts
Melrose City Hall is at 562 Main St, Melrose, MA 02176. Hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:00pm; Friday 8:30am-12:30pm. Main line: 781-979-4500.
- City HallMain line and website781-979-4500
- City ClerkLand records, vital records, and elections.
- AssessorProperty values and assessments.
- Treasurer/CollectorProperty tax billing and payment.
- Inspection ServicesBuilding permits and inspections.
- Office of Planning & Community DevelopmentZoning, land use, and planning applications.
- Recreation DepartmentCity parks, recreation programs, and facility reservations.
- Public WorksRoads, trash/recycling, and infrastructure.781-665-0142
- Health & Human ServicesTitle 5 septic inspections, wells, and public health.
- Fire DepartmentFire prevention and smoke/CO certificates for home sales.
- Melrose Public LibraryThe city's public library.
- Melrose Public SchoolsThe city's public school district.
Melrose, MA FAQ: taxes and town services
What is the property tax rate in Melrose, MA?
Melrose's FY2026 residential tax rate is $11.47 per $1,000 of assessed value. Commercial, industrial and personal property pay $20.61. Massachusetts fiscal years run July 1 to June 30.
How much are property taxes on a $400,000 home in Melrose?
Massachusetts taxes homes on their full assessed value. If a home is assessed at $400,000, that's about $4,588 a year at $11.47 per $1,000. The bill uses the assessor's value, not the sale price.
Does Melrose have a split tax rate?
Yes. Homes pay $11.47 per $1,000 and commercial, industrial and personal property pay $20.61.
What is the average single-family tax bill in Melrose?
The average single-family tax bill in Melrose was $9,787 for FY2026, on an average assessed value of $853,264.
What county is Melrose in?
Melrose is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
What ZIP code does Melrose use?
Melrose uses a single ZIP code, 02176, for the whole city.
How far is Melrose from Boston?
Melrose is about 7 miles from Boston, roughly a 15-25 minute drive.
Is there a train station in Melrose?
Yes. Melrose has three MBTA Commuter Rail stops on the Haverhill Line: Melrose Highlands, Melrose/Cedar Park, and Wyoming Hill.
Is trash pickup curbside in Melrose?
Yes. The Department of Public Works collects trash, recycling, and yard waste curbside, and also runs the City Yard drop-off facility.
Which towns border Melrose?
Melrose borders Malden, Saugus, Stoneham, and Wakefield.
Towns near Melrose
Neighbors of Melrose, including across the Connecticut line where it applies. All Massachusetts town guides.
Sources
- Melrose, Massachusetts - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- City of Melrose official website: cityofmelrose.org
- Pine Banks Park - Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org
- Public Works - City of Melrose: cityofmelrose.org
- Tax rates and average single-family value and tax bill: Massachusetts Division of Local Services, Tax Rates by Class and Average Single Family Tax Bill.
- Motor vehicle excise: M.G.L. c. 60A, $25 per $1,000 of value statewide.
- Walkability: Walk Score®, provided live by Walk Score.
- Checked September 25, 2026.