Community Profile: Malden
Malden started as a small settlement in 1629 when puritans bought a piece of land from the Native Americans. It was established as a town in 1649 and as a city in 1882. Malden was the first town in Massachusetts to break away from the colonial government during the American Revolution. Malden has since grown to be a lively city with over 800 businesses that provide a family-friendly neighborhood for the city’s large and diverse working class population.
Malden has 56,340 residents and is 5.1 square miles in size. It is among the top ten most densely populated cities in Massachusetts. Malden is located about five miles northwest of Boston. Neighboring communities include Melrose, Medford, Everett, and Revere.
Demographics
The city of Malden saw a large shift in its population during the last decade. This is reflected in the change in its racial/ethnic make-up (see Table 1 below). There was a large increase in the number of minority residents between 1990 and 2000. The most notable change is in the Asian population of Malden. This population rose nearly 10% during the 10 year period. During the same period the white population in Malden fell by almost 15%.
| Racial/Ethnic Distribution of Malden Residents | ||
|---|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity | 1990 | 2000 |
| White | 89.4% | 74.2% |
| Black or African American | 4.2% | 9.7% |
| Asian | 5.2% | 14.6% |
| Hispanic | 2.6% | 4.8% |
Source: US Census Bureau
The change in Malden’s racial profile is even more evident among Malden public schools students. The percentage of minority students has gone up while that of white students has gone down.
The figure on the right shows the racial make-up of Malden public schools at three enrollment periods. Between 1994 and 2009, the percentage of non-white students more than doubled, while the percentage of white students in the school district was cut in half.
Unlike the changes in racial make-up, the age profile in Malden has not varied much over the last decade. The 25-44 year olds still make up about 36% of Malden residents. This age group makes up much of the labor force and contributes most to Malden’s economy.
Malden has a higher percentage of ‘working poor’ than nearby cities. The per capita income level in Malden is $22,004 compared with $24,707 in Medford and $30,347 in Melrose. The median family income is $55,557 in Malden. In Medford it is $62,409 and in Melrose it is $78,114. The poverty level in Malden is about 7% compared to 4% in Medford and 2% in Melrose. The per capita income in the state is $25,952 which is about 16% higher than that for Malden.
Health Issues
Malden has one of the largest minority populations in Massachusetts. 15% of the population is Asian and 10% are African American. Most of these minority groups are immigrants or children of immigrants with low income jobs. Thus, some of the health issues in Malden are those commonly found among poor immigrant populations. These include:
- Lack of medical insurance and poor access to health care
- Cardiovascular diseases and cancers
- Sexual and reproductive health issues including HIV/AIDS
- Substance abuse
Malden has higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cancers than the state of Massachusetts. Specifically, liver and cervical cancers are higher in Malden than the state. In terms of reproductive health, the teen birth rates and the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS) are higher in Malden compared to the state.
Health Partnerships and Coalitions
Malden has a number of non-profit and public organizations that work to promote health and wellbeing in Malden, including:
- Housing Families, Inc.: Housing Families works to end family homelessness in Malden. To do this they provide temporary places to live, and create affordable housing. Additionally, they provide tutoring and counseling to all family members.
- Malden (Young Men Christian Association) YMCA: The Malden YMCA provides family-focused services. The YMCA has a wide range of programs including some on fitness and wellness, drug and alcohol prevention, tutoring, mentoring, and teen leadership development.
- Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) Malden- Center for Women & Families: YWCA Malden runs programs for children, teens, and women. Programs promote racial harmony, empowerment, and dignity for all.
- Tri Cities Community Action Program (TriCAP): Founded in 1978, TriCAP, Inc. is a multi-service, anti-poverty agency serving a three communities including Malden.
- Bread of Life: Bread of Life is a volunteer organization serving the hungry, homeless, needy and isolated. It brings together 35 churches, synagogues, high schools and community organizations from the north Boston area. Together they offer free evening meals, emergency food, free clothing and grocery delivery for senior citizens.
- For more information about public health activities in Malden, please visit the City of Malden website.
