What stands out worked out from the figures below

Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).

Waltham has the most affordable homes ($749k 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	Weston	Waltham
People
Population	11,579Lowest	64,902Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA	34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA
Kids under 18	26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	15.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	57.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 140% above MA	$120,216±$7kLowest 16% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA	$748,700±$27kLowest 33% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,085±$809Lowest 18% above MA	$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA
	Waltham and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,766Lowest 20% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±23Highest MA: 51.8%	44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Weston and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	9.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	25 minLowest 15% below MA
Work from home	29.1%±5.2Highest MA: 18.6%	24.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Weston and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#9 of 282 in MA	#217 of 282 in MA
School district	Weston	Waltham
High school in town	Weston High	Waltham Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.