Compare towns
Belmont vs Marblehead vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Belmont has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.4%).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
Waltham has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Belmont | Marblehead | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 27,175 |
20,413Lowest |
64,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Belmont and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $183,137±$14kHighest 76% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA |
| Belmont and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,159,000±$33kHighest 106% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$748,700±$27kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,527±$105Highest 43% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,268±$79 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.6%±6.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 31.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Belmont | Marblehead | Waltham |
| High school in town | Belmont High | Marblehead High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.8Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.