Compare towns
Addison vs Grafton vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most expensive homes ($362k median).
Grafton has the most affordable homes ($217k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Addison | Grafton | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175 |
1,859Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
52.4±6.9Lowest 35% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.8%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$100,809±$24k 25% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Addison and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$216,800±$39kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,112±$329 21% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,452Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
7.5%±46.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.7%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.