Hello,
I recently moved to Melrose in the past year, and my husband has lived there his whole life. I do know there are NO "bad" or avoidable areas in Melrose. The area closer to downtown has a few not so beautiful homes, but by no means dangerous. I always feel safe and rarely hear of violent crime. The biggest issue lately has been teenagers drinking, which is inevitable anywhere!
There are many gourgeous neighborhoods with victorian homes and great for families. I find it to be a great, welcoming & friendly community all around.

Hi Kurt,
Having recently worked with a client in the Medford, Malden, Melrose area, I can assure you that there are some great values. As to your question about neighborhoods, that all depends on what you consider to be a bad area, One of the benefits of hiring a buyer's agent is having the initial consultation to get to know you and your specific opinions and needs. This will assure that you are not wasting time with showings on homes that don't match your profile. Best of Luck!