What stands out worked out from the figures below

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).

Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).

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	Jefferson	Waltham
People
Population	1,013Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	58±3.5Lowest 49% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S.	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Jefferson 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

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.