Compare towns
Medford vs Needham vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Waltham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Medford | Needham | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,354 |
32,459Lowest |
64,902Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1 10% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$748,700±$27kLowest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,268±$79Lowest 29% above MA |
| Medford and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286 5% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #203 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | — | Waltham |
| High school in town | Medford High | — | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.