Compare towns
Danforth vs Lowell vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($85k median).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($210k median).
Waltham has the highest household income ($71k).
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 | Danforth | Lowell | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Highest |
378 |
346Lowest |
| Median age | 51.9±5.3Lowest 16% above ME |
55.5±8.6 24% above ME |
56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME |
| Waltham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.8%±6.6 ME: 18.1% |
13.2%±4.4Lowest ME: 18.1% |
15%±8.1Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.8Lowest ME: 22.4% |
31.2%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4% |
| Waltham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 4.5%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
30%Highest ME: 36.2% |
22.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.9Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.9%±1.9 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±3.5Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Danforth and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $42,264±$11kLowest 43% below ME |
$50,833±$31k 32% below ME |
$71,071±$14kHighest 5% below ME |
| Waltham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $85,200±$20kLowest 71% below ME |
$209,700±$30kHighest 29% below ME |
$181,300±$22k 39% below ME |
| Lowell and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $629±$22Lowest 45% below ME |
— | $850±$567Highest 25% below ME |
| Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | — | $1,478Highest 51% below ME |
$1,452Lowest 52% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±71.8Lowest ME: 48.4% |
80%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
15%±96.7 ME: 48.4% |
| Lowell and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12% ME: 10.7% |
10.8%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
19.7%Highest ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
88.5%Highest ME: 74.3% |
85.2% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Lowest 4 yrs newer than ME |
1990Highest 13 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% above ME |
31 min 24% above ME |
41 minHighest 67% above ME |
| Work from home | 3%±2.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
10.8%±5.7 ME: 15.9% |
13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waltham and Lowell 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 |
ME 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.