Residential comparison · 13 facts
Waltham, MA vs Watertown, MA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Waltham needs about $90,000 in Watertown to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Watertown, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $80,000 in Waltham.
A few differences
- Watertown is higher on median household income ($126,265 vs $120,216).
- Waltham is lower on cost of living index (142 vs 146).
- Waltham is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($2,430/mo vs $2,536/mo).
Waltham vs Watertown · facet by facet
| Facet | Waltham, MA | Watertown, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $748,700 | $784,600 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $2,430/mo | $2,536/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.14% | 1.14% |
| State & local income tax | 5% | 5% |
| Sales tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Cost of living index | 142 | 146 |
| Groceries index | 108 | 108 |
| Utilities | $245/mo | $245/mo |
| Median household income | $120,216 | $126,265 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% |
| Crime index | 30/100 | 30/100 |
| School rating | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 200 days | 200 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Waltham, MA · Watertown, MA
Questions & answers
- Is Waltham cheaper than Watertown?
- Waltham has the lower day-to-day cost index (142 vs 146 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Watertown equals $85,000 in Waltham?
- A household earning $85,000 in Waltham needs about $90,000 in Watertown to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Watertown lifestyle costs about $80,000 in Waltham.