Compare towns
Newton vs Ogunquit vs Dover vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1942).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Arlington has the most renters (38.4% rent).
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 | Ogunquit | Dover | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
1,379Lowest |
2,308 |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 136% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
$150,701±$5k 87% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 280% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kLowest 163% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
$933,800±$23k 181% above U.S. |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S. |
— | — | $2,082±$76Lowest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,604 208% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
35%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.5%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dover 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 | — | #1 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 | 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.