Santa Clara, 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.
Santa Clara
65.7
#1617 nationally
Waltham
66.7
#1517 nationally
Waltham leads in cost of living index (164 vs 241). Santa Clara leads in median household income ($165,352 vs $113,443). Santa Clara leads in crime level (5.0 vs 6.9).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Santa Clara, CA | Waltham, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 65.7 (#1617) | 66.7 (#1517) |
| Population | 131,062 | 64,477 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,680,833 | $831,292 |
| Median Household Income | $165,352 | $113,443 |
| Average Commute | 23.6 min | 24.6 min |
| Walk Score | 58 | 57 |
| Crime Level | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 241 | 164 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+40.0 | D+39.5 |
D
65.7 Score
Santa Clara, CA
Mid-size California city with community character
Median Home
$1,680,833
Population
131,062
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
58
Pacific
View Santa Clara, 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 →