Compare towns
Unity vs Waltham vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Waltham has the shortest commute (28 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 | Unity | Waltham | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Highest |
452Lowest |
1,013 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Lowest 49% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
58±3.5Lowest 49% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±2.6 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+ | 34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 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 | $87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
$296,700±$92k 11% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Unity and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Unity and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Unity School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.