Lincoln vs Waltham
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $1.5M more for a 4BR in Lincoln, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $1.5M for two tiers of schooling.
Waltham is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Waltham works out roughly $21,000 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Lincoln if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Lincoln numbers →Choose Waltham if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Waltham numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsLincoln ahead on 4 of 9, 1 against
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | top schoolsT1 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 78th | 45th |
| Student growth | 58th | 57th |
| Graduation rate | 98% | 74.5% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 27th of 361 | 259th of 361 |
| State accountability | Substantial progress toward targets | Substantial progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $28,504 | $26,402 |
| Schools in the district | 2 | 9 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 46 | 73 |
What a home costsWaltham ahead on 5 of 6
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $2.5MT4 | $1MT3 |
| 3BR townhouse | $1.5M | $790k |
| 2BR condo | $1.11M | $585k |
| 3BR rent | $4,337/mo | $3,910/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $661k | $261k |
| 10-year price growth | 5% a year | 4.9% a year |
What you pay the townWaltham ahead on 2 of 4
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $12.50T3 | $10.32T2 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$31,300 | ≈$10,300 |
| Town spending per resident | $6,269 | $4,944 |
| Share of budget on schools | 40% | 36% |
Getting to workWaltham ahead on 2 of 8
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 42 minT2 | 36 minT2 |
| MBTA rail | Commuter rail · ~43 min to terminal | Commuter rail · ~44 min to terminal |
| Miles from downtown | 14 mi | 10 mi |
| Rail to Downtown | 43 min | 44 min |
| Rail to Back Bay | 52 min | 53 min |
| Rail to Kendall Sq | 38 min | 41 min |
| Rail to the Seaport | 49 min | 49 min |
| Rail to Longwood | 66 min | 66 min |
Before kindergartenWaltham ahead on 3 of 4
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 10 | 43 |
| Child care places | 436 | 1,576 |
| Centers vs family programs | 8 centers | 20 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 62 | 193 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Lincoln | Waltham | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 7,014 | 65,218 |
| Energy | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Compact center | 3/10 | 8/10 |
| Family amenities | 9/10 | 6/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Gathering places | 5/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2026 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
