City · Massachusetts
Waltham, Massachusetts
Waltham, city, in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Waltham had 65,037 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.3% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 65,218 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 64,902 (±43). GEOID 2572600.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
65,037
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 65,218 · ACS 2020-2024: 64,902 ±43
Median household income
$120,216
±$7,308 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $103,960
Median home value
$748,700
±$27,073 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $562,100
Median gross rent
$2,268
±$79 (90% margin)
Massachusetts: $1,762
Where is Waltham and what county is it in?
Waltham is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It covers 12.7 square miles of land, 5,117 residents per square mile in 2020.
Waltham is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Waltham, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 65,037 people lived in Waltham on July 1, 2025, down 0.3% since 2020, while Massachusetts grew 1.7%. The 2020 Census counted 65,218 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 64,902 (±43).
| Measure | Waltham | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 64,902 ±43 | 1,638,365 | +2,125 |
| Households | 25,498 ±608 | 634,215 | +1,808 |
| Average household size | 2.23 ±0.05 | 2.49 | −0.10 |
| Housing units | 26,728 ±625 | 664,267 | +1,592 |
Waltham's population since 2000
From 59,226 in 2000 to 65,037 in 2025: up 9.8%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Waltham as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Waltham?
The median resident of Waltham is 34.4 years old; 13.6% are under 18 and 15.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 57.6%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 15.9%. 26.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Waltham | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.4 ±1.0 | 38.9 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 13.6% ±1.0 pts | 19.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.8% ±1.0 pts | 16.3% | – |
| Male | 50.0% ±1.5 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 15.9% ±2.2 pts | 9.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 57.6% ±2.5 pts | 65.1% | −8.3 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 8.3% ±1.5 pts | 4.7% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 12.6% ±1.9 pts | 13.6% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.3% ±0.9 pts | 5.8% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.9% ±0.5 pts | 1.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 26.3% ±2.2 pts | 23.1% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 32.3% ±2.5 pts | 29.1% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 2.6% ±0.5 pts | 3.3% | – |
| With a disability | 10.7% ±1.2 pts | 9.9% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.9% ±0.7 pts | 2.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.3% ±1.4 pts | 93.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 57.3% ±2.4 pts | 59.5% | +3.1 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 27.9% ±2.2 pts | 30.5% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 83.0% ±1.5 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.6% ±0.7 pts | 2.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Waltham earn?
Half of Waltham's 25,498 households earn less than $120,216 a year (±$7,308), against $130,847 in Middlesex County and $103,960 in Massachusetts. In 2015-2019 it was $118,102 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Waltham | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $120,216 ±$7,308 | $130,847 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $145,664 ±$7,005 | $178,070 | – |
| Per capita income | $58,449 ±$2,740 | $69,556 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 9.4% ±1.6 pts | 7.7% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 7.6% ±3.9 pts | 7.9% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.0% ±1.2 pts | 9.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.6% ±1.4 pts | 97.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 94.0% ±1.4 pts | 94.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Waltham?
Owners occupy 49.7% of Waltham's occupied homes and renters 50.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $748,700 by its owner (±$27,073). The median renter pays $2,268 a month including utilities, and 35.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Waltham | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $748,700 ±$27,073 | $727,800 | +$88,433 |
| Median gross rent | $2,268 ±$79 | $2,201 | +$144 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.7% ±4.6 pts | 37.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $3,076 ±$120 | $3,224 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 49.7% ±2.5 pts | 61.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 50.3% ±2.5 pts | 38.7% | – |
| Housing units | 26,728 ±625 | 664,267 | +1,592 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.1% ±0.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.5% ±1.3 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 37.0% ±2.5 pts | 46.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.4% ±1.0 pts | 7.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 28.3% ±2.2 pts | 32.3% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 8.6% ±1.3 pts | 10.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Waltham building?
Builders took permits for 29 new housing units in Waltham in 2025 (29 in single-family houses), 0.4 per 1,000 residents against 1.7 across Massachusetts.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Waltham work and get to work?
53.0% of Waltham's workers drive alone and 24.2% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Waltham | Middlesex County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 68.5% ±1.8 pts | 69.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7% ±0.8 pts | 4.4% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 53.0% ±3.0 pts | 54.2% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.5% ±2.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Public transportation | 4.5% ±1.1 pts | 7.2% | – |
| Walked | 6.2% ±1.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Worked from home | 24.2% ±2.1 pts | 24.7% | +19.6 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.7 min ±0.9 | 29.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Waltham?
13 census tracts lie mostly in Waltham (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $58,887 (Tract 3689.02) to $157,542 (Tract 3681.02).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 3684Middlesex County | 9,513 | $131,250 |
| Tract 3689.01Middlesex County | 6,054 | $129,236 |
| Tract 3683Middlesex County | 5,742 | $91,955 |
| Tract 3686Middlesex County | 5,688 | $125,625 |
| Tract 3688Middlesex County | 5,630 | $104,608 |
| Tract 3681.01Middlesex County | 5,536 | $140,536 |
| Tract 3691Middlesex County | 5,135 | $133,824 |
| Tract 3681.02Middlesex County | 4,804 | $157,542 |
| Tract 3682Middlesex County | 3,758 | $143,857 |
| Tract 3690Middlesex County | 3,720 | not published |
| Tract 3689.02Middlesex County | 3,540 | $58,887 |
| Tract 3685Middlesex County | 3,355 | $93,182 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Waltham) · Census block assignment files
How does Waltham compare with other places in Massachusetts?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Waltham is the 613th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 17th-most populous of 58 in Massachusetts.
Waltham ranks 181st of 453 places in Massachusetts with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 17th | 58 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 231st | 292 |
| Residents per square mile | 21st | 461 |
| Median household income | 181st | 453 |
| Per capita income | 197th | 460 |
| Median home value | 87th | 459 |
| Median gross rent | 44th | 410 |
| Poverty rate | 88th | 338 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 132nd | 459 |
| Median age | 446th | 461 |
| Owner-occupied share | 432nd | 460 |
| Work from home | 116th | 429 |
| Travel time to work | 356th | 459 |
Waltham's figures with every place in Massachusetts (CSV)
Every place in Massachusetts, sortable · Compare Waltham with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Waltham?
4 of the 57 figures for Waltham on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Waltham are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Waltham.