Waltham, Massachusetts is a diverse, affordable and active suburb of Boston with many young professionals moving into the area. What was once a town with empty storefronts, Waltham has a bustling downtown area on Moody Street which offers shopping and restaurants for everyone to enjoy. Waltham is described as a town with a community feel, and it is developing a hip urban vibe. There are a variety of housing options available, from older colonials, to new luxury style condos that will meet the needs of almost any budget. With a low crime rate, an average school system, and a downtown area that is easy to walk around, Waltham is becoming a destination for many families and young professionals who want to live near downtown Boston.
The school system in Waltham is average. Students in the Waltham school district score 12% lower on test scores than the national average. There are twelve public schools in Waltham, 4 private schools, and 4 post-secondary schools. The student to teacher ratio in Waltham is 11 to 1.
Waltham has a relatively low crime rate, and the town of Waltham is deemed safer than 59% of the cities throughout the United States. The crime rate is 53% lower than the national average, and the overall crime rate has decreased 21% over the previous year.
Hardy Pond is a good place to take the family for an afternoon outdoors. This 43 acre pond is surrounding by walking trails and is a great place to discover wildlife, paddle a canoe, or have a picnic. Lazazzero Playground is a great place for the children to play, as this is a four acre park complete with a splash park in the hot summer months.
Downtown Boston is a short ride away, and whether you want to spend a summer evening at Fenway Park, or you want to see a basketball game at TD Garden, the Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins all call the city of Boston home. If you're not a sports fan, there are plenty of restaurants for you to choose from along Moody Street, catering to all types of tastes and budgets. Spend some time shopping in downtown Waltham, perusing through the eclectic mix of shops that have brought new life to downtown. There is plenty to do in Waltham and the surrounding area, whether you want a night out on the town or you are looking to take the kids to a museum.
Waltham was once a big manufacturing town, but this has changed in recent years. The prevalent industries in Waltham are now those in the service sector, technology and education. The city is home to two colleges, Bentley College and Brandeis University, two major employers for the city of Waltham. Jobs that remain in manufacturing are those that create precision instruments, electronic products, computers and defense items.
The unemployment rate in Waltham is 3.5%, which is below the average of 5.7% in the state of Massachusetts, and below the national average of 6%. 10.9% of the residents in Waltham live at or below the federal poverty level. The median household income in Waltham is $72,332, almost $20,000 above the national average.
The public transportation system in Waltham is part of the MBTA (the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) and buses travel regular routes throughout Waltham. You can take the Fitchburg commuter rail into North Station, and make your way to anywhere in the city of Boston from there. Waltham is highly accessible by public transportation, and the commute into downtown Boston is easier by train or bus than it is by car, as the roads get congested during rush hour.
With a current median home value of $464,900, Waltham is an area that many middle income individuals and families call home. It is more affordable than most of the areas that surround Waltham, and the real estate market is hot right now. Home values have increased more than 8% in the past year, and home values are expected to continue to rise at a more modest 1.5% this year. Homes on the market in Waltham are selling fast, and it is currently a sellers market. Buyers who find a property they love in Waltham are finding out that they have to bid fast in order to get the home that they want.
Mortgage rates are below 4% right now, and this means that home buyers are able to afford more expensive homes than they could just a few years ago. Homes in Waltham have gained significant value in the past five years, and this is only expected to increase as more and more people decide that Waltham is the place they want to live.
