Waltham MA could be described as the quiet, unassuming kid in the competitive classroom that is suburban Boston, full of budding child prodigies in the form its affluent neighborhoods. It might not write the next great American novel like Newton, or make millions in the tech sector like Cambridge, but Waltham has what it takes to be a success in its own right, on its own terms.
What this means for home buyers is that Waltham is worth exploring, especially if you're willing to look beyond the inflated reputations of its neighbors and get to know the unique charms of this suburban Boston town.
According to 2010 Census, 60,632 people call Waltham home. Indeed, the population has hovered around the 60,000 mark for the past 40 years, lending the area a continuing sense of stability.
The last census recorded 24,926 housing units, of which almost half were owner-occupied. Of those households, almost 15 percent had children under 18 years of age, 41.3% included married couples, and 26.5% were born somewhere other than the United States, a common and popular characteristic of Boston's many cosmopolitan suburbs.
As a neighborhood, Waltham blends beautifully the blue collar roots of its industrial past and the wider educational prosperity that defines much of modern Boston. Almost half of its residents hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, which drives the median income up to a healthy $73,162 per household. The established base of families and foreign residents now sees further diversification, with the arrival of young professionals attracted by the proximity to Boston and new apartment complexes that are appearing along the Charles River and around Waltham Common.
Time ticks by at a pleasant pace in Waltham MA, which was once renowned for its role in American watchmaking. Affectionately known as Watch City, several reminders of the town's industrial past remain, although today the "Watch Factory" is a luxurious apartment complex on the banks of the Charles River and warehouses are more likely to house museum pieces than timepieces.
These are appropriate indicators as to the modern culture of Waltham; a city vying to be the next notable suburb of Boston, with all of the entertainment and educational options that this aspiration requires.
First, there's that prime location on the Charles. The river cuts the area's cultural options right down the middle, with all the amenities of Waltham center to the north and many dining opportunities of Moody Street to the south.
Due to the fact that almost one-quarter of the residents in Waltham MA were born outside of the United States, you'll feel those foreign influences running through the area's restaurants. Indian options are prominent along the aforementioned Moody Street, but you'll also find authentic food from many other nations, including Italian, Guatemalan, and Persian cuisine.
For anyone seeking the many cultural and educational benefits of living near Boston, but unable to stretch to the budget required for most of the city's immediate suburbs, Waltham provides an affordable and accessible alternative.
The city's position on the banks of the Charles River provides immediate access to walking trails and bike paths that run directly into Boston. It's common in the warmer months to see fishers rubbing shoulders with runners and cyclists, as rowing clubs make the most of the popular waterway. Set alongside the many bus routes, highways, and two train stations that also run directly downtown in under 30 minutes, Waltham boasts the kind of broad-based accessibility that most other suburbs simply cannot match.
While the city's schools cannot boast the nationally renowned educational levels of neighboring Newton or Lexington, they still rank among the state's middle-tier and show an upward momentum, according to Boston Magazine. That makes for a high school graduation rate of 84.7 percent in 2015, of whom almost three-quarters went on to attend college. Furthermore, with many young professional couples moving to the area with the intention to start their family life, there is likely to be more money available to keep Waltham's trend towards the top educational tier sustainable.
While it falls short of the sheer affluence and revolutionary history of better-known neighbors like Newton and Lexington, Waltham holds many claims to fame, both historically and as a modern city.
We've talked about its place in watchmaking history, which was an important element of the city's role in the wider Industrial Revolution. The 19th century also saw the city provide a home to textile manufacturing and its associated industries. It's those businesses that Waltham has to thank for the expansive warehouse spaces that line its section of the Charles River, which now house popular cultural institutions including the Museum of Industry and the Waltham Mills Artists Association. Along with the annual summer concerts on Waltham Common and the independent Embassy Cinema, there's no shortage of entertainment and educational fun for all the family.
Singles and young couples are also well catered for in Waltham. Literally, in fact, as Moody Street is arguably one of the most appealing dining destinations for young people outside of Boston proper. The blend of bars and restaurants along this popular strip leading up to the south bank of the Charles is enough to keep even the most active midweek reveler entertained. Then, when the weekend rolls around, the bright lights of Boston are just a short bike, bus, or train ride away, as Waltham's excellent transport links connect it seamlessly to the big city.
