Should I Move To
Waltham, Massachusetts is home to about 64,711 people. On cost of living, it lands in the expensive band — 26% above the national average. The median renter pays around $2,141 a month against a typical household income of $113,443. Our composite UrbRank Score lands at 60 out of 100 (grade C+), putting it at #144 nationally.
UrbRank Score · General
Each dimension scored 0-100 against every other US city.
Based on overall cost of living vs. other US cities.
Temperate summers & winters, moderate precipitation.
Walk Score — how feasible daily errands are on foot.
Unemployment rate plus household income vs. national median.
Air quality index (EPA AQS data).
Share of residents 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Waltham's composite cost-of-living index lands at 126 (100 = US average), which puts it in the expensive band. At $2,141/mo against $113,443 in median household income, the typical renter spends about 23% of income on housing — right inside the standard 30%-of-income guideline. Median home value sits around $679,000.
Full cost-of-living breakdown →Climate is four-season — summer averages around 80°F, winter averages around 26°F. Precipitation totals about 44 inches a year. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests. AQI runs about 34 — a "good" reading.
Verdict by lifestyle profile — same data, different priorities.
Waltham doesn't obviously fit families. The profile-weighted score is 51/100 — a C-. Its standout dimension is job market (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (15/100).
Waltham doesn't obviously fit retirees. The profile-weighted score is 44/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is job market (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (15/100).
Waltham doesn't obviously fit remote workers. The profile-weighted score is 43/100 — a D. Its standout dimension is job market (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (15/100).
Waltham reads as a moderate fit for young professionals. The profile-weighted score is 56/100 — a C. Its standout dimension is job market (97/100); the soft spot is affordability (15/100).
Our overall score for Waltham is 60/100 — a C+, sitting at #144 in the national ranking. It's a weighted average across the seven UrbRank dimensions.
By the composite index, Waltham sits at 126 — expensive, 26% above the national average. Median renter pays around $2,141 a month.
Waltham runs four-season on the weather. Summer's near 80°F, winter's near 26°F; 44 inches of precipitation annually.
Walk Score: 41/100. You'll need a car for most things, though the central core is more walkable than the citywide score suggests.
Roughly 64,711 people live here, with 57% college-educated (bachelor's or higher) among adults 25+ with a median age of 35.
Drop Waltham into the comparison tool with any other US city and you'll get housing costs, salaries, demographics, and quality-of-life data lined up side by side. Profile-specific leaderboards (families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals) are linked from the navigation.
Every US city is scored 0-100 on seven dimensions using public data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI Crime Data Explorer, EPA Air Quality System, NOAA NCEI, and Walk Score. Each dimension is a percentile rank against every other city — so a score of 80 means the city is in the top 20% nationally on that dimension.
The overall score is a weighted average. Five lifestyle profiles — general, families, retirees, remote workers, young professionals — weight the dimensions differently to reflect what each cares about. Families get more weight on safety and schools; young professionals get more weight on jobs and walkability; retirees get more weight on climate.
Compare Waltham with other Massachusetts cities scored on UrbRank.
Take the 2-minute UrbRank quiz to get a personalized ranking of US cities based on your priorities — cost, climate, commute, jobs, and more.