What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).

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	Newton
People
Population	64,902Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$748,700±$27kLowest 33% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,268±$79Lowest 29% above MA	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA
	Newton and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.7%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Waltham and Newton 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%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%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	27 minHighest 9% below MA
Work from home	24.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#217 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Waltham	Newton
High school in town	Waltham Sr High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.4Lowest	10.8Highest
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.