What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Newton	Arlington
People
Population	89,044Highest	46,350Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA	41.6±1.3Lowest 4% 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 MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.3%±1.3Lowest 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+	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	76.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$150,701±$5kLowest 45% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$933,800±$23kLowest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA	$2,082±$76Lowest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,604Lowest 60% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%	35%±4.6Lowest 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	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	5.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest MA: 62.5%	61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	32 minHighest 11% above MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	34.5%±2.8Highest 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	#25 of 282 in MA	#29 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Arlington
High school in town	Newton North High	Arlington High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	13.6Highest
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.