Waltham, Massachusetts Income Statistics
Waltham Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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B
Waltham Around average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Waltham | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $118,718 | $104,336 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $83,212 | $80,230 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 4.9% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 22.0% | 20.6% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 24.9% | 22.3% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Waltham is about 14% higher than in Massachusetts. Income has been growing faster in Waltham (4.9%/yr) than in Massachusetts (4.9%/yr).
About 22% of adults in Waltham earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Massachusetts average of 21%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Waltham, Massachusetts grew by 83.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $118,718 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Waltham
| Metric | Waltham | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.535 | 0.531 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $93,738 | $90,842 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $81,820 | $75,629 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.7% | 16.7% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Waltham, it is 0.535, about the same as Massachusetts's 0.531, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 15% more than women's income in Waltham, Massachusetts. Over a 35-year career, a 15% wage gap accumulates to roughly $417,130 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waltham, Massachusetts has widened from about 3% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,427 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Waltham widened by 9.9 points while Massachusetts's narrowed by 5.5 points.
Employment
| Metric | Waltham | Massachusetts Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 24.2% | 18.6% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 22 | 25 | 22 |
Approximately 1,449 people are unemployed in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The average commute time in Waltham is 22 minutes, shorter than the 25 minutes in Massachusetts.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Waltham, Massachusetts has fallen from 4.8% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.3% in 2014 and fell as low as 2.6% in 2020.
Waltham, MA Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
Waltham, MA is the 2nd largest of the 5 cities compared here, 64,842 residents against a local median of 34,950. The measure that sets Waltham, MA apart most is median household income: $118,718, 37% below the local median of $189,053. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The cities themselves spread $78,640 on median household income, so Waltham, MA sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Waltham, MA has the 5th highest median household income of the 5 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waltham, MA | 64,842 | $118,718 #5/5 | 4.9%/yr #3/5 | 3.7% #2/5 | 0.535 #5/5 |
| Lexington, MA | 34,306 | $205,627 | 3.8%/yr | 2.9% | 0.487 |
| Belmont, MA | 27,165 | $187,422 | 6.6%/yr | 4.3% | 0.485 |
| Newton, MA | 88,909 | $190,683 | 5.1%/yr | 3.8% | 0.523 |
| Watertown, MA | 35,594 | $126,987 | 4.3%/yr | 5.3% | 0.466 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Waltham, Massachusetts has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Massachusetts, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Waltham, Massachusetts.
How Rich Is Waltham, Massachusetts?
Waltham has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $118,718, about 14% higher than the Massachusetts average of $104,336.
How has median household income changed in Waltham, Massachusetts?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Waltham, Massachusetts rose 83%, from $64,760 to $118,718. Over the same years, income here outpaced Massachusetts as a whole: +83% against +61%.
What was the median household income in Waltham in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Waltham, Massachusetts was $116,233, up 2% from $113,431 in 2022. The Massachusetts median that year was $101,513.
What was the median household income in Waltham in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Waltham, Massachusetts was $95,434. By 2024 it had risen 24% to $118,718.
Is unemployment high in Waltham, Massachusetts?
Unemployment in Waltham, Massachusetts is only 3.7%, well below the Massachusetts rate of 5.1%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Waltham, Massachusetts?
The Gini coefficient in Waltham is 0.535. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Waltham, Massachusetts?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Waltham, Massachusetts has widened from about 3% to 13% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 23% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $10,427 since 2009.
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