02453 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02452
02453
Opportunity
66 · Top 27%
vs66 · Top 27%
Growth
50 · Bottom 48%
vs50 · Bottom 48%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 21%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 17%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Schools
62 · Top 37%
vs62 · Top 36%
Access
98 · Top 17%
vs98 · Top 23%
Economic stability
57 · Bottom 45%
vs73 · Top 25%
Measured values
| Metric | 02452 | 02453 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,808 | 31,591 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $118,431 | $115,366 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $52,042 | $56,697 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 4,146/sq mi | 8,795/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $808,300 | $705,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,322 | $2,115 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 51.1% | 43.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3.8% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.8% | 59.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 9.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 42 | 42 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.6 | 0.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 90.9% | 90.9% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 85°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 18°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.6" | 42.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 12 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.3 min | 25.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 31.6 | 32.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.65 | 9.30 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 29.3% | 27.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 40.6% | 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
02452
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02453
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02452 — Waltham, MA · 02453 — Waltham, MA · How this is calculated: methodology