Cost of Living in Waltham, MA
Cost of Living in Waltham, MA has an overall index of 173, 73% above the U.S. baseline of 100. The typical home value is $802,136; typical monthly rent is $2,232; and median household income is $116,560.
Cost index: committed city housing/rent inputs and BEA 2024 metro-area price parities. Home value: Zillow ZHVI market signal as of 2026-02. Rent: Census ACS 2023 fallback place estimate. A place-level signal, not a personal affordability decision or financial recommendation.
Home prices are the main source of pressure. This describes the local market, not your household.
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Frequently asked questions about Waltham
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. Use that as a planning signal for whether the place looks manageable under your own household assumptions.
How much are taxes in Waltham, MA?+
Massachusetts uses a progressive model; 9% is top marginal-rate context. Applying the 1.15% state-level effective owner-occupied proxy to a home worth $802,136 gives a planning estimate near $9,225 per year; it is not a city, county, parcel, or individual tax bill. State plus average local sales-tax context is around 6.25%.
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 typical home value in Waltham is $802,136. With 20% down and the committed 6.11% national 30-year fixed benchmark as of 2026-03-12, principal and interest are roughly $3,893/month before property tax and insurance. This is a planning estimate, not a local lender quote. 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%.