02141 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02452
02141
Opportunity
66 · Top 27%
vs73 · Top 15%
Growth
50 · Bottom 48%
vs60 · Top 33%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 17%
vs45 · Bottom 9%
Schools
62 · Top 37%
vs64 · Top 33%
Access
98 · Top 17%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 45%
vs58 · Bottom 46%
Measured values
| Metric | 02452 | 02141 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,808 | 14,517 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $118,431 | $126,522 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,042 | $80,031 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,146/sq mi | 23,837/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $808,300 | $868,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,322 | $2,915 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.1% | 25.5% | 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 | 53.8% | 74.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 14.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 42 | 337 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 2.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 90.9% | 361.6% | 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 | 11 mi | 4 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 28.6 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.6 | 31.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.65 | 8.02 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 29.3% | 36.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.6% | 36.6% | 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
02452
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02141
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02452 — Waltham, MA · 02141 — Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology