How many renters in Waltham, MA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Waltham, MA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

44.6% (±5.2 points) of renting households in Waltham, MA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

35.7% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 27.8% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 44.6% (±5.2 points)
Paying 35% or more: 35.7% (±4.6 points)
Median share of income: 27.8% (±1.9 points)

Rent as a share of income in Waltham

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Waltham	Middlesex County	Massachusetts	United States
Less than 15%	13.4% (±2.8 points)	13.1%	12.4%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	11.6% (±2.6 points)	13.5%	11.6%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	18.2% (±4.1 points)	14.2%	12.3%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	12.0% (±2.5 points)	12.0%	12.0%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.9% (±2.5 points)	9.5%	10.0%	9.2%
35% or more	35.7% (±4.6 points)	37.6%	41.8%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Waltham against Middlesex County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Waltham	Middlesex County	Massachusetts	United States
Paying 30% or more	44.6% (±5.2 points)	47.1% (±1.1 points)	51.8% (±0.5 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	35.7% (±4.6 points)	37.6% (±1.0 points)	41.8% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	27.8% (±1.9 points)	28.8% (±0.4 points)	30.9% (±0.3 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$92,415 (±$11,193)	$84,135 (±$1,906)	$60,987 (±$576)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$2,268 (±$79)	$2,201 (±$17)	$1,762 (±$9)	$1,413

In Waltham, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Middlesex County (47.1%).

It is also lower than in Massachusetts (51.8%).

It is lower than the national figure (51.1%).

In Middlesex County, Waltham ranks 38 of 54 places with a published estimate, from highest to lowest share of renters paying 30% or more of income.

Statewide, it ranks 247 of 351.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Waltham

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Waltham
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Waltham	—	44.6% (±5.2 points)	—
Belmont (community)	3.2 mi	45.6% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
Belmont	3.2 mi	45.6% (±6.6 points)	Not measurably different
Watertown	3.5 mi	42.7% (±5.2 points)	Not measurably different
Weston	3.7 mi	69.1% (±23.8 points)	Higher
Lexington (community)	3.9 mi	50.1% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Lexington	3.9 mi	50.1% (±8.2 points)	Not measurably different
Newton	4.3 mi	43.3% (±4.6 points)	Not measurably different
Lincoln	4.3 mi	64.6% (±16.9 points)	Higher

Nearby places with a measurably higher figure: Weston, MA (69.1%), Lincoln, MA (64.6%).

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Renters paying 30% or more of income across Middlesex County, place by place

Rank	Place	Renters paying 30% or more of income
32	Belmont	45.6% (±6.6 points)
33	Ayer	45.1% (±14.7 points)
34	Pepperell	45.0% (±14.4 points)
35 (tie)	Cambridge	44.9% (±2.0 points)
35 (tie)	Maynard	44.9% (±11.7 points)
37	Sudbury	44.8% (±15.4 points)
38	Waltham	44.6% (±5.2 points)
39	Groton	43.8% (±18.5 points)
40	Wakefield	43.7% (±8.9 points)
41	Newton	43.3% (±4.6 points)
42	Wayland	42.8% (±19.1 points)
43	Watertown	42.7% (±5.2 points)
44	Billerica	42.3% (±10.4 points)

Showing 13 of 54 places in Middlesex County, ranked from highest to lowest.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Waltham

Are renters in Waltham rent-burdened?

44.6% of renting households in Waltham pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Waltham spend on rent?

The median renting household in Waltham, MA spends 27.8% (±1.9 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Waltham city, Massachusetts (place:72600, in state:25).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.