What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).

Pelham has the most affordable homes ($448k 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	Pelham
People
Population	89,044Highest	1,335Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA	45±8.4Highest 13% above MA
	Pelham 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%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pelham 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%	26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pelham 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%	64.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%	2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$113,750±$24kLowest 9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$447,600±$33kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA	$1,205±$560Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$7,472Lowest 25% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%	42.7%±35.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Newton and Pelham 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%	10.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%	79.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% below MA	23 minLowest 21% below MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Pelham 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	—
School district	Newton	Pelham
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

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.