What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).

Springfield has the most kids (15.1% under 18).

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	Springfield
People
Population	452Lowest	1,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S.	51.4±8.8Lowest 32% above U.S.
	Waltham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.1%±8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Springfield and Waltham 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%	19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Waltham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,500±$14kLowest 21% above U.S.	$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S.
	Springfield and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average	$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S.
	Springfield 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.	$1,096±$217 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Lowest 83% above U.S.	$5,946Highest 91% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Waltham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waltham and Springfield 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.