Compare towns
Newton vs Ware vs Natick vs Andover
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Andover has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
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 | Ware | Natick | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
10,048Lowest |
36,873 |
36,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
42.9±1 7% above MA |
| Natick and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Andover and Natick 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$172,606±$16k 66% above MA |
| Newton and Andover 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$855,600±$22k 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,201±$129 25% above MA |
| Newton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.5% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Andover 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Ware | Natick | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Natick High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.6 |
12.8Highest |
| 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.