What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Medford has the most people working from home (26.8%).

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	Waltham	Medford
People
Population	64,902Highest	59,354Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA	35.9±1Highest 10% below MA
	Medford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.6%±1.1Highest MA: 19.4%	12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Waltham and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.8%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%	15.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Waltham and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	59.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	11.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA	$129,540±$8kHighest 25% above MA
	Medford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,700±$27kLowest 33% above MA	$755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA
	Medford and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,268±$79Lowest 29% above MA	$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA	$6,286Highest 5% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Waltham and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	7.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 15% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	24.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Medford and Waltham 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	#217 of 282 in MA	#203 of 282 in MA
School district	Waltham	Medford
High school in town	Waltham Sr High	Medford High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Highest	9.2Lowest
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.