What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).

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	Newfields	Newton
People
Population	2,023Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S.
	Newfields and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Newton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$190,304±$9kLowest 136% above U.S.
	Newfields and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S.	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S.	$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.	$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Newfields School District	Newton
High school in town	None in town	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.