What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pendleton has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).

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	Pendleton	Waltham
People
Population	7,034Highest	452Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	46.7±4.1Lowest 20% above U.S.	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22%	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pendleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pendleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,750±$27kHighest 41% above U.S.	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.
	Pendleton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,300±$39kLowest 12% below U.S.	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average
	Waltham and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$994±$119Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.
	Waltham and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,623Highest 112% above U.S.	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	6.6%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham and Pendleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 15% below U.S.	28 minHighest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	18.4%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Pendleton 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	#67 of 484 in NY	—
School district	STARPOINT CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	STARPOINT HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	14.5	—
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.