Compare towns
Newton vs Wakefield vs Arlington
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).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($724k median).
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 | Wakefield | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
27,793Lowest |
46,350 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
41.6±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Wakefield 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 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Wakefield 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% |
59.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$134,306±$14kLowest 29% above MA |
$150,701±$5k 45% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$723,500±$24kLowest 29% above MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,958±$102Lowest 11% above MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,779Lowest 30% above MA |
$9,604 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
43.7%±7.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wakefield and Newton 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% |
4.9% MA: 10% |
5.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Arlington |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8 |
10.7Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.