What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

Waltham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Framingham	Waltham
People
Population	72,399Highest	64,902Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Highest 6% below MA	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%
	Waltham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% above MA	$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA
	Waltham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA	$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA	$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 15% above MA	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest MA: 10%	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	25 minLowest 15% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#229 of 282 in MA	#217 of 282 in MA
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Waltham
High school in town	Framingham High School	Waltham Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.