What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the highest household income ($98k).

Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k 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	Jefferson
People
Population	452Lowest	1,013Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.8% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.	58±3.5Lowest 49% above U.S.
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest 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+	45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest 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	$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S.	$67,188±$13kLowest 17% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average	$296,700±$92kLowest 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	$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Highest 83% above U.S.	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.