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Waltham, MA

Full City Profile · Massachusetts · Middlesex County County

3.5 /5.0
B+ Good
64,723 Population 5,076/sq mi density
$116,560 Median Income $58,065 per capita
$705,700 Home Value $802,136 Zillow
$2,232 Median Rent 27.4% income on rent
51°F Avg Temperature 246 sunny days/yr
163 Violent Crime/100K 816 property/100K
B+
Overall
3.5 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
A+
Economy
4.9 / 5.0
$116,560 median income, 2.5% unemployment
B
Affordability
3.3 / 5.0
$705,700 home value, $2,232/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
163 violent crimes/100K
A+
Education
5.0 / 5.0
56.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Waltham experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 51°F (11°C). Winters average 28°F in January while summers reach 74°F in July. The area gets 246 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 42.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 37.

Temperature

28°F Jan (-3°C) 74°F Jul (23°C)
Annual Average50.5°F
6% below US avg
January Average28°F (-3°C)
July Average74°F (23°C)
Sunny Days246 days/yr

Geography

Elevation115 ft (35 m)
Area12.8 sq mi (33.0 km²)
Population Density5,076/sq mi
Coordinates42.3889°N, 71.2423°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyMiddlesex County County
Nearest AirportGeneral Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)
12 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 42.6"
12% above US avg
Wettest Month (Nov) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.43"

Air Quality

AQI Median37.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0382 ppm
NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide)15.2 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)6.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score97.0 / 100
Social Vulnerability15.8 / 100
Community Resilience89.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Moderate
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Moderate
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Very High
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

30 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.7. Most recent: M3.8 on Jan 27, 2025.

Oct 16, 2012 5 km W of Hollis Center, Maine M4.7 143 km
Jan 27, 2025 9 km SE of York Harbor, Maine M3.8 93 km
Oct 2, 1994 6 km W of Hardwick, Massachusetts M3.7 85 km
Oct 6, 1992 1 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire M3.4 108 km
Jan 12, 2015 0 km NE of Wauregan, Connecticut M3.3 90 km
Jun 16, 2000 5 km NE of Granville, Massachusetts M3.3 134 km
Oct 2, 1994 1 km NW of Hardwick, Massachusetts M3.3 80 km
Sep 26, 2010 2 km SW of Canterbury, New Hampshire M3.2 108 km
Mar 22, 1996 2 km NE of Bristol, Rhode Island M3.1 78 km
Jan 10, 1999 2 km ENE of Merrimac, Massachusetts M3.1 55 km
Jan 27, 2000 3 km WNW of Fremont, New Hampshire M3.0 68 km
Jan 10, 1999 1 km NNE of Merrimac, Massachusetts M3.0 54 km
Jul 22, 2003 72 km NNE of Provincetown, Massachusetts M3.0 126 km
Jun 7, 2010 29 km SE of York Beach, Maine M2.9 104 km
Jan 8, 1998 52 km ENE of Rockport, Massachusetts M2.9 111 km
Sep 28, 2002 2 km N of Wilton, New Hampshire M2.8 67 km
Mar 23, 1992 5 km SE of Hill, New Hampshire M2.8 128 km
Mar 9, 2008 25 km SE of York Beach, Maine M2.8 101 km
Mar 21, 2016 4 km ESE of Warner, New Hampshire M2.8 106 km
Oct 11, 1990 5 km NNE of The Pinehills, Massachusetts M2.7 75 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

3 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 2. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 1 275 km
1991 Bob Category 2 65 km
1985 Gloria Category 1 140 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

182 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 100 fatalities, 1,334 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Jun 9, 1953 EF4 77 km 94
Jun 22, 1981 EF3 66 km 0
Sep 29, 1974 EF3 24 km 0
Oct 3, 1970 EF3 77 km 1
May 20, 1963 EF3 90 km 0
Jun 9, 1953 EF3 68 km 0
Jun 9, 1953 EF3 50 km 0
Aug 18, 2023 EF2 71 km 0
Jul 28, 2014 EF2 18 km 0
Jul 24, 2008 EF2 85 km 1
Jul 11, 2006 EF2 97 km 0
May 21, 2006 EF2 67 km 0
May 31, 1998 EF2 92 km 0
Jul 3, 1997 EF2 80 km 0
Aug 7, 1986 EF2 71 km 0
Aug 10, 1979 EF2 73 km 2
May 3, 1976 EF2 88 km 0
Aug 9, 1972 EF2 75 km 0
Jul 21, 1972 EF2 36 km 0
Aug 28, 1970 EF2 92 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

1 wildfire (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: THE RANGE (760 ac, 2005).

Year Name Acres Distance
2005 THE RANGE 760 36 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 28°F (-3°C) 4.1 in
February 27°F (-3°C) 3.4 in Coldest, Driest
March 36°F (2°C) 4.1 in
April 46°F (8°C) 3.9 in
May 57°F (14°C) 3.6 in
June 66°F (19°C) 3.5 in
July 74°F (23°C) 3.5 in Warmest
August 71°F (21°C) 3.7 in
September 63°F (17°C) 3.7 in
October 51°F (11°C) 4.0 in
November 42°F (6°C) 4.3 in Wettest
December 31°F (-0°C) 4.1 in

Waltham has a seasonal temperature swing of 46°F / from 27°F in February to 74°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 45.9 inches, with November being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.4").

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