Melrose 76 Excellent
Melrose Livability #164 ranked city in Minnesota#3,568 ranked city in the USARanks better than 87% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Melrose

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Residents in this area benefit from an affordable cost of living. This includes goods and services, transportation, housing, utilities, groceries and healthcare.

  • Crime Crime

    This area is characterized by a crime rate, per 100,000 individuals, that falls well below the national average, indicating its potential as a very safe place to live.

  • Housing Housing

    The housing category in this area boasts higher than average scores, likely influenced by a positive home affordability ratio, robust appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Earning a high health and safety score depends on factors such as good air quality and the availability of essential health facilities like hospitals, clinics, doctors, and fire stations.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    It appears that many amenities may not be conveniently situated within walking distance, potentially necessitating the use of a vehicle or public transit.

  • Commute Commute

    Commuters in this area may experience longer-than-average work commute times due to limited public transportation access.

What's it like Living in Melrose?

Located in the state of Minnesota, Melrose is a small-sized city with a population of 3,794 residents. The majority of Melrose residents report their race to be White; this is followed by Black and Asian. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Melrose offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

Living in Melrose can be a great experience for anyone relocating to the town. Having said that, in the state of Minnesota, there are many incredible places to live, so choose wisely! When searching for a new neighborhood, several factors play a vital role in determining its suitability. Safety should be a top priority, ensuring a secure environment with low crime rates. Proximity to your workplace or school helps minimize commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance. Availability of essential amenities such as parks, coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities contributes to convenience and well-being. Access to reliable public transportation options facilitates easy commuting and connectivity. Additionally, considering the sense of community and the overall atmosphere that resonates with your lifestyle and preferences fosters a harmonious living experience. With useful information like crime, commute, education, employment, housing and other key data points, finding the best places to live in Melrose and in the areas around Melrose is a much easier task.

The livability score in Melrose is 74/100 and the city is ranked in the 85th percentile of all cities across America. There are nine total categories that form the livability score. Melrose ranks well for crime (A+), cost of living (B), education (B) and housing (A+) There is at least one category that does not have great scores in Melrose. The following was graded with a disappointing score: amenities (F).

Low violent crime rates (murder, rape, robbery, assault) provide a safer environment for residents, reducing the risk of personal harm, property theft or violence. Low crime can also lead to increased property values and desirability. With 111 crimes per 100,000 residents, Melrose has a violent crime rate that is far below the national average.

The Melrose unemployment rate of 1.4% has continued to decrease over the years and is now well below the national average. The result could lead to reduced poverty and inequality in the area, higher wages and increased economic growth. This is a positive sign in the overall health of the local economy.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Melrose apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Melrose meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Melrose. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Melrose are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Melrose come in at $240,719, which is 29% lower than the Minnesota average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Melrose, the home price to income ratio is 3.1, which is 16.2% lower than the Minnesota average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Melrose

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Compare Melrose, MN Livability

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      Melrose transportation information

      Statistic Melrose Minnesota National
      Average one way commute18min23min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.5%78.0%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.2%8.7%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.2%3.5%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle1.7%0.8%0.6%
      Workers who walk2.9%2.8%2.8%
      Working from home2.4%5.3%4.6%
      Source: The Melrose, MN data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.