What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Newton has the highest household income ($138k).

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	Haverhill	Newton
People
Population	67,698Highest	4,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average	47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Haverhill and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S.	$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kLowest 36% above U.S.	$459,500±$18kHighest 38% above U.S.
	Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49Lowest 18% above U.S.	$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S.
	Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S.	$8,124Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newton and Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA	#70 of 120 in NH
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Haverhill High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.