Compare towns

Waltham vs Springfield vs Addison

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 most people working from home (20.6%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Addison has the most kids (18.6% 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.

MeasureWalthamSpringfieldAddison
People
Population
452Lowest
1,122
1,175Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
60.8±7.3Highest
56% above U.S.
51.4±8.8Lowest
32% above U.S.
53.1±7.6
37% above U.S.
Waltham and Addison 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%±8
U.S.: 22%
18.6%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Addison and Springfield 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%
27.1%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.1%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Addison and Waltham 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±$19k
25% above U.S.
$106,667±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
Addison and Springfield 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.
$362,200±$23k
9% above U.S.
Springfield and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$113Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$2,019±$461Highest
43% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,714Lowest
83% above U.S.
$5,946Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,831
87% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±58.6
U.S.: 51.1%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±62.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Addison and Waltham 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%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
86.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1980Lowest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
5% above U.S.
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
20.6%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.3%±5.4Lowest
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 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.