The Waltham, MA Housing Market: Prices and Trends for 2026

Waltham, MA sits in Middlesex County - close enough to Boston to matter for commuters, far enough outside the core to have its own distinct market. If you are buying a home in Waltham, MA, you'll find a mix of single-family houses, condominiums, and row houses here, and the pricing reflects where the city sits in the regional pecking order.

If you're trying to decide whether to buy, sell, or wait, the local data tells a pretty clear story right now.

There are 83 active homes for sale in the city. With roughly 1.9 months of supply on hand, this is a tight market by any reasonable measure - and that tightness shows up directly in how transactions are closing.

Over a recent 12-month period, 132 homes sold in Waltham, with sellers averaging about 100.9% of their list price. About 43% of those sales closed above the original asking price, which tells you that multiple buyers competing for the same property isn't the exception here - it's closer to the norm.

It's a seller's market, and not a borderline case. Real estate professionals generally consider anything under five to six months of supply to favor sellers, and Waltham sits well below that threshold.

If you're buying, go in prepared. Get your financing squared away before you start scheduling tours - not after you fall in love with a place. If you're selling and you price your home off recent comparable sales rather than wishful thinking, you should see strong offers.

The median sale price for a home in Waltham recently came in at approximately $819,000 - down 5.3% compared to the same time last year. That sounds like movement, but it's worth putting in context alongside the other numbers.

Zillow reports the average home value at $841,319, which is up 1.0% year-over-year. Redfin puts the average house price closer to $838,000. Different methodologies, slightly different answers - neither is wrong, they're just measuring different things. The median sale price per square foot is currently $473, up 3.7% since last year, which suggests the underlying price-per-unit-of-space is still climbing even as the headline median dipped.

The two main zip codes are close in value but not identical. In 02453, the average home value is approximately $830,694, up 1.5% year-over-year. In 02451, that figure is $826,915, with a smaller year-over-year gain of 0.4%. Neither gap is dramatic enough to drive your decision on its own, but if you're comparing specific properties across zip codes, it's useful context.

The median days on market is 21. Most properties go pending in about 23 days.

That pace doesn't leave much room for deliberation. If you're a buyer who needs a week to think it over after every showing, this market is going to be frustrating. New listings need to be on your radar the day they hit, not three days later when you get around to checking.

Sellers benefit from that speed, obviously. But a correctly priced home generates its strongest interest in the first two weeks - stale listings in a 1.9-month-supply market should raise a flag for buyers, not an opportunity.

In Waltham, the year-over-year median sale price dropped 5.3%, while the average home value index edged up slightly. The difference comes down to which mix of homes sold in each measurement period - not a contradiction, just two lenses on the same market.

There's no evidence in the current data of a major market correction. With only 83 homes available, the inventory situation alone is keeping a floor under local values.

The median household income in Waltham, MA is $120,216 per year - 16% higher than the Massachusetts state median. That higher income base is part of why the housing market here can sustain prices in the $800,000 range.

Your total monthly cost goes beyond the mortgage payment, though. Property taxes, insurance, and current interest rates all factor into what you're writing a check for each month. The purchase price is the headline; the carrying cost is the reality.

Compared to national averages, yes - the $819,000 median home price requires a real down payment and solid household income. Within the Greater Boston area, though, Waltham sits at a different price point than some of its neighboring towns. Whether that trade-off makes sense depends on where you work, how you weigh commute time, and what you need from your neighborhood day-to-day.

The buyer pool here is genuinely varied - primary homebuyers, investors watching the tenant demand generated by local universities and businesses, and people looking to downsize. The city's proximity to Boston is the common thread.

For long-term owners, the slight dip in median sale price doesn't change the broader appreciation picture. For investors, the short days-on-market means you can't take your time on a decision.

A lot of residents point to the restaurants, parks, and public transit access. The suburban feel without being far from urban centers works for a wide range of households.

Retirees looking to downsize often land on condos or smaller single-family homes here. The healthcare options available across the Greater Boston area are a practical factor in that decision, not just an afterthought.

Preparation isn't optional in this market - it's the price of admission.

Sellers need to anchor their ask to recent comparable sales. Even with 1.9 months of supply working in your favor, an overpriced listing will sit, and a listing that sits loses momentum fast.

Buyers need mortgage pre-approval before they start touring, full stop. With homes going pending in roughly 23 days, you don't have time to arrange financing after finding the house you want.

Some buyers use the 3-3-3 rule as a budget framework: three years of saved income toward a down payment, a home price within three times your gross annual income, and a mortgage payment no higher than 33% of your monthly pay.

Applying that framework to a $819,000 median price in Waltham requires a high income by most standards. It's a useful starting point for a conversation with your lender - not a replacement for one.

The current inventory of 83 homes includes a mix of condos and single-family houses. Single-family homes generally offer more space and a private yard; they also come with higher price tags and maintenance costs. Condominiums trade some of that space for lower entry prices and shared upkeep - a real trade-off, not a consolation prize.

Renting is also a legitimate option if you're not ready to commit. It gives you time to get familiar with the difference between 02451 and 02453 before you're locked into one.

Local real estate agents have MLS access, which is more current than most public portals. There's often a lag between when a property hits the MLS and when it shows up on consumer sites - in a market where homes go pending in 23 days, that gap matters.

Set up automated alerts based on your specific criteria so you're notified the moment something relevant appears. Then schedule the tour that same day.

Zillow reports the average home value in Waltham at $841,319. Redfin data shows a slightly different average house price of $838,000.

It's a seller's market. There's currently about 1.9 months of housing supply available, and homes frequently sell for slightly above asking price.

The median sale price dropped 5.3% year-over-year to $819,000. The average home value index, though, showed a slight 1.0% increase over the same period.

That depends almost entirely on your financial readiness. Inventory is low at 83 available homes, and buyers who can meet current prices are entering a market with stable values and strong historical demand.

Yes, housing costs run well above national averages. The median household income in the city is $120,216 - 16% higher than the state median - which reflects the overall cost of living here.

Many people choose it for exactly that - the suburban environment, proximity to Boston, and access to Greater Boston's healthcare resources. Condominiums are a common choice for buyers who want lower-maintenance living.

With only 83 active properties currently on the market, some buyers consider a custom home build instead of competing for existing inventory. This approach requires factoring current interest rates and local property taxes into your total carrying costs.

The tight inventory of available properties occasionally includes options within new home developments. Buyers interested in these newer builds still need to secure mortgage pre-approval before touring, as the local market moves fast.