Signals
Medford
Watertown
Opportunity
63 · Top 35%
vs69 · Top 25%
Growth
34 · Bottom 23%
vs39 · Bottom 30%
Climate
65 · Bottom 36%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Housing affordability
61 · Bottom 21%
vs57 · Bottom 17%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
74 · Top 19%
vs75 · Top 18%
Measured values
| Metric | Medford | Watertown | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 59,354 | 35,543 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $129,540 | $126,265 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $66,184 | $73,851 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 7,327/sq mi | 8,895/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $755,500 | $784,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,509 | $2,502 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 54.1% | 47.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.8% | 66.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.6% | 7.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 9 | 15 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 0.2 | 0.4 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 50.0% | -6.3% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 7 mi | 9 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.8 min | 29.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 35.9 | 39.4 | 2024 ACS 5-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
Medford
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Watertown
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Medford, MA · Watertown, MA · How this is calculated: methodology