Compare towns
Newton vs Ware vs Natick vs Brookline
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 highest household income ($190k).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Brookline has the most renters (53.1% 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 | Ware | Natick | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
10,048Lowest |
36,873 |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
35.2±1.2Lowest 12% below 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%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Natick and Newton 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% |
15.8%±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% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest 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% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
$142,101±$8k 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
$1,246,800±$67k 122% above MA |
| Newton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| 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%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Brookline 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
8.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
46.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 22 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Brookline 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 | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Ware | Natick | Brookline |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Natick High | Brookline High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.1 |
12.6Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.