What stands out worked out from the figures below

Arlington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Arlington	Newton
People
Population	46,350Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
	Newton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Newton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Newton and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 11% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Arlington and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Arlington	Newton
High school in town	Arlington High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.6Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.