Waltham is a small town of 193 in Minnesota, with a median household income of $59,375
and a 5.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Waltham stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. 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: 94.3
Waltham's overall cost of living index is 94.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Waltham costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Waltham, MN
National Avg
Median Home Value
$129,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$950
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
82.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$59,375
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Waltham's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents
— 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
167.2 /100k
Property Crime
1293.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Metric
Waltham, MN
National Avg
School District
N/A
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
N/A
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
2.8%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
84.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Waltham sees average highs of 21.9°F in January
and 80.8°F in July,
with 36.2 inches of annual precipitation
and 43.4 inches of snow per year.
Waltham's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Waltham roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $129,500 and median rent is $950/month.
Waltham's violent crime rate is 167.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1293.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
School district information is sourced from NCES Common Core of Data.
Waltham, MN has a population of 193, a median household income of $59,375, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Waltham averages 21.9°F in January and 80.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 36.2 inches
with about 43.4 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Waltham, MN is covered by 1 ZIP code: 55982.
The population of Waltham, Minnesota is 193 with a median age of 30.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Waltham: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $129,500, median household income $59,375, crime index 51 (100 = US average, lower is safer). 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.