Compare towns
Newton vs Upton vs Natick vs Wellesley
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 shortest commute (27 min average).
Upton has the most affordable homes ($577k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
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 | Wellesley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
8,189Lowest |
36,873 |
30,347 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
43.3±1.4 8% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below 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%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376Lowest 40% above MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% 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% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Wellesley 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% |
4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.4% 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 |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Wellesley 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #6 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Natick | Wellesley |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Blackstone Valley | Natick High | Wellesley Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.2 |
12.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.