What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most people working from home (13.4%).

Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k 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	Danforth
People
Population	346Lowest	666Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-0.3% ME: +2.6%
Median age	56.4±9.3Highest 26% above ME	53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME
	Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15%±8.1Highest ME: 18.1%	13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1%
	Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	32.9%±4.7Highest ME: 22.4%	26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.8%Highest ME: 36.2%	9%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.7%±3.5 ME: 5.8%	1.7%±2 ME: 5.8%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,071±$14kHighest 5% below ME	$48,125±$8kLowest 36% below ME
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$181,300±$22kHighest 39% below ME	$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$850±$567Highest 25% below ME	$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME
	Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,452Highest 52% below ME	$1,270Lowest 58% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	15%±96.7Lowest ME: 48.4%	36.1%±57.5Highest ME: 48.4%
	Danforth and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.7%Highest ME: 10.7%	13.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest ME: 74.3%	81.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 9 yrs newer than ME	1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	41 minHighest 67% above ME	28 minLowest 15% above ME
Work from home	13.4%±6.1Highest ME: 15.9%	5.8%±3.4Lowest ME: 15.9%
	Waltham and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.