02453 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02148
02453
Opportunity
62 · Top 35%
vs66 · Top 27%
Growth
50 · Bottom 49%
vs50 · Bottom 48%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs62 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
51 · Bottom 14%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Schools
63 · Top 36%
vs62 · Top 36%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs98 · Top 23%
Economic stability
67 · Top 36%
vs73 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | 02148 | 02453 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 65,906 | 31,591 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $100,606 | $115,366 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $48,581 | $56,697 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 13,061/sq mi | 8,795/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $633,500 | $705,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,204 | $2,115 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 41.3% | 43.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45.1% | 59.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 9.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 25 | 42 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.4 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 92.3% | 90.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 42.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 37.4 min | 25.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.8 | 32.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 8 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 14.35 | 9.30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 33.1% | 27.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.8% | 42.0% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02148
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02453
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02148 — Malden, MA · 02453 — Waltham, MA · How this is calculated: methodology