Burlington, MA vs Waltham, MA

Waltham is moderately more affordable than Burlington, with a 5.4% lower cost of living index. Burlington scores 173 compared to 164 for Waltham, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Burlington can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Burlington is $2,597/month compared to $2,232/month in Waltham — a 16% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Waltham has cheaper rent, Burlington actually has lower median home values ($679,400 vs $705,700).

Median household income in Burlington is $142,207 compared to $116,560 in Waltham (+22%). While Burlington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Burlington spend roughly 21.9% of their income on rent, less than the 23% in Waltham.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 50.5°F). Waltham receives more rainfall at 42.6" per year compared to 42.6" in Burlington.