Compare towns
Newton vs Upton 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).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k 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 | Upton | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
8,189Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Natick 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% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Newton and Upton 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 125% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Blackstone Valley | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
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.