02144 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02451
02144
Opportunity
67 · Top 26%
vs73 · Top 16%
Growth
50 · Bottom 48%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
52 · Bottom 14%
vs60 · Bottom 23%
Schools
73 · Top 22%
vs73 · Top 22%
Access
97 · Top 25%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
76 · Top 19%
vs72 · Top 26%
Measured values
| Metric | 02451 | 02144 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,393 | 25,448 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $122,335 | $150,313 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $67,455 | $83,033 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 3,269/sq mi | 23,304/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $753,000 | $988,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,677 | $2,702 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 59.3% | 36.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 56.0% | 75.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.3% | 10.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 42 | 97 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 90.9% | 11.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 13 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.5 min | 34.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 40.3 | 31.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.95 | 14.65 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 41.2% | 44.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 47.4% | 59.6% | 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
02451
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02144
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02451 — Waltham, MA · 02144 — Somerville, MA · How this is calculated: methodology