What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Milton	Newton
People
Population	28,587Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
	Newton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
	Newton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
	Newton and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Milton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	70%Lowest 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	31 minHighest 8% above MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Newton and Milton 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	#55 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Milton	Newton
High school in town	Milton High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	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.