Waltham, MA
Living in Waltham, MA costs about 73% more than the national average (Cost Index: 173). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $802,136 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $116,560, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.
Waltham already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 23% rent burden, 6.9x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 264. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI
Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Waltham.
Cost of Living Breakdown
Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.
Waltham Mortgage Calculator
Pre-filled with the local median home value of $802,136 and Massachusetts's property tax rate of 1.15%.
Household Housing Budget
Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.
Property Tax in Waltham, MA
Massachusetts Place Tax Context
Compare Waltham to Another City
Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.
Cost of Living Comparison
Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.
Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)
FAQ: Living in Waltham
Is Waltham, MA an expensive place to live?+
Yes — Waltham is about 73% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 173. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $802,136, and monthly rents average roughly $2,232. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.
How does Waltham fit a household housing budget?+
Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $2,232, while local median household income is $116,560. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 23% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.
How much are taxes in Waltham, MA?+
Massachusetts has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 9%. The effective property tax rate is 1.15%. On a home worth $802,136, that translates to roughly $9,225 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6.25% on everyday purchases.
How much does it cost to rent in Waltham, MA?+
The typical monthly rent in Waltham is around $2,232. That's about 66% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $802,136, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.
How much does a house cost in Waltham, MA?+
The median home in Waltham is valued at $802,136. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $4,056/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 49% of residents here own their homes.
Are groceries and utilities expensive in Waltham?+
Grocery prices in Waltham are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 100, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 149). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.
What is Waltham, MA like to live in?+
Waltham is a smaller city with a population of about 64,723. The median age of residents is 35.1, which is close to the national median. The local poverty rate is 8.62%, near the national average of 12.4%.
Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Massachusetts
If Waltham feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.
Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Massachusetts
Use these city pages when you want to compare Waltham against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.
More Cities in Massachusetts
View All Massachusetts Cities →- Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
- Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
- Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
- Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
- Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)