What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

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	Waltham	Framingham
People
Population	64,902Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA	37.5±1Highest 6% below MA
Kids under 18	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Lowest 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+	57.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA	$107,419±$6kLowest 3% 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	$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA	$627,300±$10kLowest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA	$2,033±$57Lowest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Framingham and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	10.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#217 of 282 in MA	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Waltham	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Waltham Sr High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.