What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).

Wheelock has the most kids (18.8% 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	Wheelock
People
Population	452Lowest	717Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-6.4% VT: +2.8%
Median age	60.8±7.3Highest 41% above VT	51±5.6Lowest 18% above VT
	Waltham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±7.4Lowest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9%
	Wheelock 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 VT: 21.4%	29.4%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	39%Highest VT: 43.8%	34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Waltham and Wheelock 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 20% above VT	$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT
	Waltham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$329,700±$51kHighest 4% above VT	$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$113 11% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,714Highest 13% above VT	$2,937Lowest 42% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	29.2%±58.6Highest VT: 48.4%	0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Waltham and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.7%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9%
	Wheelock and Waltham 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

VT 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.