Residential tax rate
FY2026$10.32
per $1,000 of assessed value / year
Equivalent base rate 1.032%
Based on the municipal assessment. Exemptions, any CPA surcharge and other bill adjustments affect the final bill.
Official certified rates ↗
GREATER BOSTON · KELLY CUI
Waltham
Waltham is a city with its own downtown, Commuter Rail service on the Fitchburg Line and a wide range of housing ages.
HOME & LIVINGSCROLL TO EXPLORE ↓
A city with its own downtown, two Commuter Rail stops and housing of every age.
West of Boston · COMMUNITY GUIDE
A city with its own downtown, two Commuter Rail stops and housing of every age.
Waltham is a city with its own downtown, Commuter Rail service on the Fitchburg Line and a wide range of housing ages. It also offers a residential exemption to owner-occupants of homes up to three families, which matters for buyers comparing a condominium with a two- or three-family home. This guide covers how to frame the search and what to verify.
WALTHAM · AT A GLANCE
Waltham at a glance
Population, housing and local identity.
- Population
- 65,037 July 1, 2025 estimate
- Median household income
- $120,216 2020–2024 · annual, in 2024 dollars
- Median owner-occupied home value
- $748,700 2020–2024 · Census housing value
- Median monthly gross rent
- $2,268 2020–2024 · gross rent per month
LOCAL IDENTITY
An industrial heritage
Waltham became a city in 1884. The Boston Manufacturing Company established operations here in 1814, combining spinning and weaving in one place.
- Municipality
- City of Waltham
- County / State
- Middlesex County, Massachusetts
- Land area
- 12.74 sq mi (2020)
- City incorporation
- 1884
Statistical definitions & official sources
Income is household income, not an individual salary. Home value is a Census estimate for owner-occupied housing, not a current sale-price median. Gross rent includes contract rent and applicable utility and fuel costs. These citywide statistics are not quotes for a specific home.
PROPERTY TAX & EXEMPTIONS
Property tax, clearly explained
Waltham · Latest certified rate as of 2026-10-29.
Owner-occupied exemption
Available · eligibility applies
Residential Exemption
The municipality has adopted a 35% exemption, calculated from its average residential assessed value. It is not 35% off your own home’s value or tax bill.
Ownership, principal-residence dates and application requirements must be met. Confirm the current-year amount with the assessor.
Official exemption information ↗Personal exemptions
Available · eligibility applies
Personal / Statutory Exemptions
Programs cover qualifying older residents, legally blind owners, certain veterans and eligible surviving spouses or minor children. Requirements differ by program.
Age, residency, ownership, income or assets may be considered. An individual owner is not automatically eligible; check the local application and deadline.
Eligibility & applications ↗Residential exemption adoption: Massachusetts DLS local-options report. Personal relief: the municipal assessor. Tax deferral postpones payment; it does not cancel the tax. DLS local options ↗
EXPLORE THE AREA
Map of Waltham
GETTING AROUND
Subway & rail in Waltham
STATIONS AT A GLANCE
Subway
Connections outside the areaCommuter Rail
Local stationsFitchburg Line
Selected boarding points, grouped by line. Not every stop is shown; this is not a scale map.
View the network maps ↗No station within the area
Subway
There is no MBTA subway station in Waltham. A subway journey requires a connection outside the city.
MBTA · LOCAL & NEARBY
Waltham: nearby subway
Nearby connections outside this area. Map detail: Waltham · Waverley · Belmont · Porter · Harvard.
© MBTA · 2026-06-14 · Official map detail, not to scale. MBTA maps ↗
Stations serving the area
Commuter Rail
Waltham and Brandeis/Roberts are on the Fitchburg Line toward Porter and North Station. Porter connects with the Red Line; North Station connects with Orange and Green Line service.
MBTA · LOCAL & NEARBY
Waltham: Commuter Rail
Local and nearby routes. Map detail: Brandeis/Roberts · Waltham · Waverley · Belmont · Porter · North Station.
© MBTA · 2025-03-24 · Official map detail, not to scale. MBTA maps ↗
Compare the two stations separately. Include the trip to the platform, parking arrangements and the last useful train home.
Selected stations are shown above. Open the MBTA line or station page for the full route, current timetable, accessibility and parking. Service patterns can change.
SCHOOLS & EDUCATION
Explore schools in Waltham
Compare schools listed in Waltham, including public charter schools where present. Confirm school assignment and eligibility for the exact home address, grade and school year.
CHECK THE EXACT ADDRESS
Waltham Public Schools
Give the Parent Information Center the full address, grade and school year to confirm placement.
School locations in Waltham
Select a school or a map pin to see its address and school details.
School names are shown on the map. Zoom in or filter by level to separate nearby labels. Multi-level schools appear in each relevant filter.
Loading map. School addresses and official links are also available in the cards below.
Locations, not attendance boundaries. One contact or main campus location is shown per school; some schools have additional campuses. Charter schools follow their own enrollment process. MassGIS ↗
Public school
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School ↗
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
58Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts52%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics44%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
494 Lincoln Street, Waltham MA 02451 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Kevin Kmiec
- Office phone
- 781-314-5721
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 515 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 11.5 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 60 · Math 63
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Dual Language School ↗
Dual Language School is a public school in Waltham, serving k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
55Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts32%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics30%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
617 Lexington St, Waltham MA 02452 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Ricardo Dobles
- Office phone
- 781-314-5402
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 219 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 13.1 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 61 · Math 51
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Henry Whittemore Elementary School ↗
Henry Whittemore Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
37Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts22%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics33%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
30 Parmenter Road, Waltham MA 02453 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- K – Grade 5
- Principal
- David Sweder
- Office phone
- 781-314-5785
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 355 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 9.1 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 52 · Math 55
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
James Fitzgerald Elementary School ↗
James Fitzgerald Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
64Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts46%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics54%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
138 Beal Road, Waltham MA 02453 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Jennifer Barbara Santillo
- Office phone
- 781-314-5685
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 352 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 10 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 52 · Math 58
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
John F Kennedy Middle ↗
John F Kennedy Middle is a public school in Waltham, serving grade 6 – grade 8.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
66Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts49%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics49%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
655 Lexington St, Waltham MA 02452 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Grade 6 – Grade 8
- Principal
- Kevin J Gildea
- Office phone
- 781-314-5563
- Students
- 645 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 10.3 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 55 · Math 59
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
John W. McDevitt Middle School ↗
John W. McDevitt Middle School is a public school in Waltham, serving grade 6 – grade 8.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
40Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts34%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics35%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
75 Church Street, Waltham MA 02453 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Grade 6 – Grade 8
- Principal
- Scott Lipman
- Office phone
- 781-314-5595
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 604 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 9.6 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 52 · Math 55
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Northeast Elementary School ↗
Northeast Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving pre-k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
31Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts30%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics38%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
70 Putney Lane, Waltham MA 02452 3099 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Pre-K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Mary Ellen Tenaglia
- Office phone
- 781-314-5740
- Students
- 477 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 10.7 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 53 · Math 45
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School ↗
Thomas R Plympton Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
23Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts29%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics43%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
20 Farnsworth Street, Waltham MA 02451 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Adrienne Norris
- Office phone
- 781-314-5760
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 335 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 10.1 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 44 · Math 42
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Waltham Sr High ↗
Waltham Sr High is a public school in Waltham, serving grade 9 – grade 12.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
11Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Grade 10
English language arts34%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics38%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
554 Lexington Street, Waltham MA 02452 3099 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Grade 9 – Grade 12
- Principal
- William Conard
- Office phone
- 781-614-2702
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 1,784 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 10.4 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Grade 10ELA 42 · Math 46
Four-year graduation rate
79.3%Class of 2025 · All studentsShare of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.
DESE graduation report ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
Waltham Valor High School ↗
Waltham Valor High School is a public school in Waltham, serving grade 9 – grade 12.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
—Percentile 1–99No published 2026 MCAS results for these tested grades.
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
617 Lexington Street, Waltham MA 02452 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Grade 9 – Grade 12
- Principal
- Linda Flueckiger
- Office phone
- 781-314-5402
- School / district site
- Visit official website ↗
- Students
- 47 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 9.8 : 1 · 2025-26
Four-year graduation rate
30%Class of 2025 · All studentsShare of the cohort graduating within four years. Small cohorts and unavailable results may not be reported.
DESE graduation report ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
Public school
William F. Stanley Elementary School ↗
William F. Stanley Elementary School is a public school in Waltham, serving pre-k – grade 5.
DESE school performance2026 · Accountability percentile
42Percentile 1–99MCAS 2026 · Tested grades 3–8
English language arts32%Meeting or exceeding expectations
Mathematics35%Meeting or exceeding expectations
A percentile is a relative standing, not a score out of 100. — means no published value.
250 South Street, Waltham MA 02453 ↗
School details & official resources
- School district
- Waltham
- School type
- Public school
- Grades in directory
- Pre-K – Grade 5
- Principal
- Jennifer Ann Hacker
- Office phone
- 781-314-5620
- Students
- 396 · 2025-26
- Students / teacher
- 8.5 : 1 · 2025-26
Student growth · MCAS 2026
Average Student Growth Percentile (SGP) compares progress with students who had similar prior test results. It is not the percentage meeting standards.
Tested grades 3–8ELA 50 · Math 51
DESE MCAS achievement & growth ↗Enrollment and student/teacher ratio are from the DESE 2025-26 profile. The ratio describes students per teacher, not students per classroom. DESE accountability percentiles compare schools serving similar grades and are not scores out of 100. A dash means no figure is reported.
No schools match these filters. Try another name or reset the filters.
Understand the numbers
Enrollment and student/teacher ratios use the stated school year. The 2026 DESE percentile runs from 1 to 99 and is not a score out of 100. A dash means the figure was not reported.
More school resources
GreatSchools and Niche publish their own ratings and reviews. Open their sites to search a school; those ratings are separate from DESE data.
School contacts and operating status: DESE school profiles, October 29, 2026. Enrollment and ratios: the year shown on each card. Accountability: DESE 2026, October 20 release. Addresses are official contact addresses; some schools have more than one campus. MassGIS (Bureau of Geographic Information), Commonwealth of Massachusetts EOTSS.
LIVING IN WALTHAM
Homes & everyday life
Look closer at local homes, daily routines and ownership responsibilities.
01
Downtown, two stations and the bus network
The Fitchburg Line stops at Waltham station, by downtown, and at Brandeis/Roberts; MBTA bus routes 70, 554, 556 and 558 also serve the city. Moody Street is the most visible part of downtown, and the City runs a seasonal outdoor dining program there (May 22 to September 7 in 2026).
Start with where you need to go. A home within walking distance of Waltham station, one near a bus route and one chosen mainly for highway access are three different searches, and each should be tested at the hours you would travel.
02
Condominiums of every age, and multi-family options
A Waltham condominium search can include buildings of very different ages, and the questions change with age. Use one checklist for all of them: the 6(d) certificate, budget and reserves; what the fee covers; parking and storage; and the rules on leasing and pets. In older buildings, ask about the roof, heating and windows, and about lead-paint compliance for pre-1978 construction. In newer buildings, ask what remains under the developer's warranty and whether the developer still controls the association.
Two- and three-family homes are worth a look if you want rental income alongside your own home. Review the leases, rents, security deposits and each unit's systems before you rely on the numbers, and see the cost section below for how the residential exemption treats them.
03
Schools and the daily commute
Students attend Waltham Public Schools; confirm the assigned school for the exact address with the district, and use the state education department's (DESE) district profile for official enrollment and program information.
For commuting, check the Fitchburg Line timetable for the station you would use, and compare it with bus and driving times at the same hour. If the home is far from both stations, the bus routes and the drive become the comparison, so test them before you commit.
04
Tax and the residential exemption
Waltham's FY2026 residential rate is $10.32 per $1,000 of assessed value, or $1,032 a year for each $100,000 of assessment. The City offers a residential exemption for owner-occupied homes of up to three families: for FY2026 it reduces the assessed value by $317,643, worth about $3,278 a year at that rate. Eligibility is fixed as of January 1 before the fiscal year (for FY2026, January 1, 2025), so a buyer who moves in during the year should check when they first qualify and apply once eligible. FY2027 rates and exemption amounts had not been certified at the time of writing.
If you buy a two- or three-family and live in one unit, the property can still qualify as an owner-occupied home; ask the assessor how the exemption is calculated for it. Condominium buyers should add the monthly fee and any planned assessments to the comparison.
ON YOUR NEXT VISIT
What to check in person.
- ↗ Walk to Waltham or Brandeis/Roberts station
- ↗ Bus and drive times at your commuting hour
- ↗ 6(d) certificate, budget and reserves
- ↗ Lead-paint status for pre-1978 buildings
- ↗ Leases, rents and deposits for a multi-family
- ↗ Residential exemption timing and application
PAST SALES
Closed sales in Waltham
All 4 published closed-sale records for Waltham, including seller and buyer representation. Each card identifies Kelly’s role and the closing date.
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Waltham, MA
31 Hall St#2
3 beds•3.5 baths•2,592 sq ft
Kelly · Buyer representation · Apr 1, 2026
MLS PIN #73470899
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Waltham, MA
13 Gale St#2
3 beds•2.5 baths•2,691 sq ft
Kelly · Buyer representation · Apr 16, 2024
MLS PIN #73198088
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Waltham, MA
94 Overland Rd#4
2 beds•1 bath•796 sq ft
Kelly · Buyer representation · Jun 29, 2021
MLS PIN #72804437
SoldVIEW PROPERTY ↗Waltham, MA
426 Main Street#One
3 beds•2.5 baths•1,987 sq ft
Kelly · Buyer representation · Apr 27, 2020
MLS PIN #72626857
Sources for this guide
MBTA · Fitchburg Line ↗MBTA · Bus route 70 ↗City of Waltham · Assessor FAQ: residential exemption ↗City of Waltham · Outdoor dining on Moody Street ↗City of Waltham · Assessor ↗Mass. DESE · Waltham district profile ↗Mass. DPH · Property Transfer Lead Paint Notification ↗Mass. DLS · Tax rates by class, FY2026 ↗
Official sources as of 2026-10-28. Tax figures are base amounts before exemptions, any Community Preservation Act surcharge or other bill adjustments; ask for the property’s latest bill. Figures such as tax rates and fares change; confirm school assignment, permits, zoning and travel for the exact address and intended date.
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