Compare towns
Waltham vs Jefferson vs Mount Tabor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
Mount Tabor has the most expensive homes ($421k 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.
| Measure | Waltham | Jefferson | Mount Tabor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452 |
1,013Highest |
304Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
58±3.5 49% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Lowest 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%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest 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% |
42.4%±18.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Mount Tabor 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest 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±$51k about the U.S. average |
$296,700±$92kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$420,500±$76kHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,233 68% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±71.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest 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 History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.