What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k 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	Newton	Newfields
People
Population	89,044Highest	2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Lowest 8% above U.S.	44.1±1.8Highest 13% 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	20.5%±1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.6Lowest 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+	19.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	7.5%±7.2Lowest 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	$190,304±$9kLowest 136% above U.S.	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% 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	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S.	$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S.	$1,875±$323Lowest 33% 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%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1%	43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S.	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the U.S. average	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#25 of 282 in MA	—
School district	Newton	Newfields School District
High school in town	Newton North High	None in town
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.