What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newton	Natick
People
Population	89,044Highest	36,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA
	Natick and Newton 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%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Natick and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Lowest 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%	70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA	$2,134±$124Lowest 21% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$8,914Lowest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest 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%	5.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest MA: 62.5%	68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#25 of 282 in MA	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Natick
High school in town	Newton North High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	12.6Highest
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.