Imperial, CA vs Waltham, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Imperial
71.3
#996 nationally
Waltham
66.7
#1517 nationally
Imperial leads in crime level (2.1 vs 6.9). Imperial leads in cost of living index (118 vs 164). Waltham leads in median household income ($113,443 vs $83,029).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Imperial, CA | Waltham, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 71.3 (#996) | 66.7 (#1517) |
| Population | 21,591 | 64,477 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $445,376 | $831,292 |
| Median Household Income | $83,029 | $113,443 |
| Average Commute | 18.1 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | N/A | 57 |
| Crime Level | 2.1 | 6.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 118 | 164 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | R+0.9 | D+39.5 |
Data coverage note: Imperial is missing data for 1 metric that Waltham has. Scores with less coverage are penalized — see our methodology.
C-
71.3 Score
Imperial, CA
Small California city with local appeal
Median Home
$445,376
Population
21,591
Crime
Low
Median Income
$83,029
Pacific
View Imperial, CA →
D
66.7 Score
Waltham, MA
Massachusetts community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$831,292
Population
64,477
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
57
Northeast
View Waltham, MA →