Compare towns
Newton vs Douglas vs Natick
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 expensive homes ($1265k median).
Douglas has the most affordable homes ($471k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.
| Measure | Newton | Douglas | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
9,207Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Douglas and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Newton 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$470,600±$29kLowest 16% below MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,503±$697Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,338Lowest 6% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Newton and Natick 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Douglas | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Douglas High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
7.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.