Compare towns
Newton vs Acton vs Wellesley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Acton | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
24,155Lowest |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Acton and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Acton 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 | #25 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.