What are the schools like in Waltham, MA?

Waltham is served primarily by Waltham. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.2:1.

What is the median household income in Waltham?

The median household income in Waltham, MA is $113,443 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.1%.

What is the weather like in Waltham, MA?

Waltham has an average high temperature of 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 59.0 inches.

Waltham, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Waltham, MA affordable or expensive?

Waltham's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Waltham is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $679,000 and the median rent is $2,141 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Waltham, MA?

Waltham has a violent crime rate of 252.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 699.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Waltham, MA a Good Place to Live?

Waltham is a mid-sized city of 64,711 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $113,443 and a 3.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Waltham stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Waltham is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Waltham city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Waltham's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Waltham costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Waltham, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$679,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,141	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.9%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$113,443	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Waltham's violent crime rate is 252.0 per 100,000 residents — 34% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

252.0 /100k

Property Crime

699.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Waltham is served primarily by Waltham. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Waltham, MA	National Avg
School District	Waltham	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.2:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	56.6%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Waltham sees average highs of 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July, with 49.3 inches of annual precipitation and 59.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Waltham, MA
Average High — January	36.8°F
Average High — July	85.1°F
Annual Precipitation	49.3"
Annual Snowfall	59.0"

Demographics

Metric	Waltham, MA	National Avg
Population	64,711	—
Median Age	34.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	24.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	65.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	7.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.1%	18.9%
Asian	13.0%	6.3%
Under 18	13.3%	22.2%
65 and over	15.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Belmont, MA 3 mi Watertown Town, MA 4 mi Lexington, MA 4 mi Newton, MA 4 mi Arlington, MA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Waltham

Waltham, MA is covered by 4 ZIP codes:

02451 02452 02453 01773

Waltham vs Other Cities

Waltham, MA vs Belmont, MA Waltham, MA vs Watertown Town, MA Waltham, MA vs Lexington, MA Waltham, MA vs Newton, MA Waltham, MA vs Arlington, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Waltham, MA affordable or expensive?

Waltham's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Waltham roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $679,000 and median rent is $2,141/month.

What is the crime rate in Waltham, MA?

Waltham's violent crime rate is 252.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 699.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Waltham?

Public schools in Waltham are operated by Waltham. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.2:1. 56.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Waltham, MA a good place to live?

Waltham, MA has a population of 64,711, a median household income of $113,443, and an unemployment rate of 3.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Waltham?

Waltham averages 36.8°F in January and 85.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.3 inches with about 59.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Waltham?

Waltham, MA is covered by 4 ZIP codes: 02451, 02452, 02453, 01773.

What is the population of Waltham?

The population of Waltham, Massachusetts is 64,711 with a median age of 34.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Waltham?

Key numbers for living in Waltham: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $679,000, median household income $113,443, crime index 53 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Waltham side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.