Compare towns
Malden vs Framingham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Waltham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Malden | Framingham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 65,906 |
72,399Highest |
64,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
37.5±1Highest 6% below MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 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+ | 45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6kLowest 3% below MA |
$107,419±$6k 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 | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62 25% above MA |
$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995 17% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Malden 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 | #184 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Waltham |
| High school in town | Malden High | Framingham High School | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
12.7 |
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.