Neighborhood · Waltham, MA

South Side Eviction Risk: Lower

1 census tracts · pop 3,052 · pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score 3.4/10 · range 3.4–3.4

South Side is a diverse neighborhood in Waltham with 1 census tract and a population of 3,052 residents. The neighborhood's pop-weighted eviction-risk score of 3.4/10 (Lower tier) blends state law, county-level filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income ratios + poverty. 40% of renters here pay at least 30% of household income on rent, and 18% are severely cost-burdened (≥50% of income). Average gross rent of $1,821/month sits 20% lower than the Waltham citywide average ($2,268).

Risk score

3.4

Lower

1 tracts · population-weighted

South Side vs Waltham How this neighborhood stacks against the citywide average

% of income on rent

40.2% +45%

Waltham: 27.8%

Average gross rent

$1,821 -20%

Waltham: $2,268

Average HH income

$90,484 -22%

Waltham: $116,560

Poverty rate

12.0% +39%

Waltham: 8.6%

Renter share

83.2% +65%

Waltham: 50.3%

Peer neighborhoods

Neighborhoods with similar eviction risk

Same county, closest by Eviction Risk Score.

Geographic context

Risk heat across South Side and the region

Click any tract to drill in · 1 tracts span score 3.4–3.4

Why South Side scores 3.4

9 axes · pop-weighted · 1 = landlord-friendly

State political climate

legislature & governorship · Range 6.2–6.2 across tracts

6.2

Regional political climate

County-level mix · 2024 presidential margin · Range 7.3–7.3 across tracts

7.3

Local political climate

Parent city governance · Range 7.5–7.5 across tracts

7.5

Rent control risk

40% of income on rent · Range 5.1–5.1 across tracts

5.1

Eviction process difficulty

State notice requirements & court backlog · Range 5.7–5.7 across tracts

5.7

Tenant organizing strength

83% renter households · Range 9.2–9.2 across tracts

9.2

Housing court bias

County bench composition · Range 4.9–4.9 across tracts

4.9

Economic stress

12.0% below poverty line · Range 3.0–3.0 across tracts

3.0

Supply constraint

Rent-to-FMR gap & zoning friction · Range 1.4–1.4 across tracts

1.4

Risk score comparison

South Side vs. parent city, state, U.S.

Eviction Risk Score (0–10 scale).

Census tracts

1 tracts in South Side

Ranked highest-risk first. Click for per-tract detail.

Tract↕	Score↕	Pop↕	% over 30% on rent↕	Average rent↕
25017368500	3.4	3,052	40%	$1,821

Social Vulnerability Index

CDC SVI percentile: 66

Pop-weighted across 1 tracts. Higher = more vulnerable to disaster, displacement, and rent shocks. Source: CDC/ATSDR SVI 2022.

Socioeconomic status 57%ile

Poverty, unemployment, no-HS-diploma, housing cost burden

Household characteristics 22%ile

Single-parent HH, disability, language barriers, age 17- / 65+

Racial/ethnic minority 68%ile

Hispanic + non-white share of population

Housing & transport 90%ile

Multi-unit structures, mobile homes, crowding, no vehicle

Eviction filings · Princeton Eviction Lab

Court-record eviction history in South Side

Aggregated across 1 validated constituent tract. Filing rate is filings per 100 renter households, pop-weighted.

Historic baseline (2000–2018)

134Total filings (sum)
2.66%Avg annual filing rate
4.1%Peak year (2013)
2.36%Latest filed (2016)

CDC PLACES 2023 · pop-weighted

Eviction-adjacent indicators in South Side

Average across all constituent tracts, population-weighted. Source: CDC PLACES (cwsq-ngmh) crude prevalence.

11.5%Housing insecurity
6.4%Utility shutoff threat
12.0%Food insecurity
12.3%SNAP enrollment
6.1%No health insurance
22.6%Any disability

Frequently asked

About South Side

What is the eviction-risk score for South Side?

South Side scores 3.4/10 (Lower tier) across 1 census tracts. The pop-weighted Eviction Risk Score blends state law, county filing rates, parent-city politics, and tract-specific rent-to-income and poverty signals.

How does South Side compare to Waltham overall?

South Side scores 2.2 points lower than Waltham overall (5.6/10). Renters spend 40% of income on rent vs 28% citywide. Average rent: $1,821 vs $2,268.

What is the average rent in South Side?

Average gross rent in South Side is $1,821/month (pop-weighted across 1 census tracts, ACS 5-year 2023). 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.

What percentage of South Side residents are renters?

83% of South Side households are renter-occupied (vs 50% in Waltham). The neighborhood has 3,052 residents.

Is South Side a high social-vulnerability area?

South Side sits in the 66th percentile nationally on the CDC Social Vulnerability Index (moderately vulnerable). The index combines poverty, unemployment, household composition, racial/ethnic minority share, and housing/transportation factors across all US census tracts.

How safe is South Side for landlords?

South Side carries a lower-tier eviction-risk profile for landlords (3.4/10). Pop-weighted across 1 constituent tracts, the score blends parent-city rent-control posture, county eviction-process timelines, and tract-specific rent-to-income / poverty signals. Compared to Waltham as a whole (5.6/10), this neighborhood is lower-risk.

What is the demographic breakdown of South Side?

South Side has 3,405 residents (Diverse Neighborhood). Top groups: White (non-Hispanic) (50.8%), Asian (non-Hispanic) (19.9%), Hispanic / Latino (19.5%). Source: ACS 5-year 2023, table B03002.

Nearby

Other neighborhoods near South Side

2.2 The Island 2 tracts · pop 10,930 3.1 The Bleachery 2 tracts · pop 8,616 4.8 Central Square 6 tracts · pop 26,701 1.3 Night Caps Corner 2 tracts · pop 9,960 4.1 Pigeon Hill 2 tracts · pop 9,727 1.2 Lasell Village 2 tracts · pop 10,703

Sibling neighborhoods

Other neighborhoods inside Waltham

Same parent city, ranked by score similarity to South Side.

3.3 Banks Square 1 tracts · pop 5,687 3.6 Pigeon Hill 2 tracts · pop 9,727 2.8 The Bleachery 2 tracts · pop 8,616 2.3 Lakeview 2 tracts · pop 10,777 2.3 Prospectville 1 tracts · pop 3,892 2.3 Cedarwood 1 tracts · pop 7,836

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