What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the most affordable homes ($1265k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Newton	Wellesley
People
Population	89,044Highest	30,347Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA	37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA
Kids under 18	20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	89%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kLowest 83% above MA	$250,001Highest 140% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kLowest 125% above MA	$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA	$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA	$10,000+ at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wellesley and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Highest MA: 10%	4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1955Highest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	27 minHighest 7% below MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	32%±2.9Lowest 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	#6 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Wellesley
High school in town	Newton North High	Wellesley Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8	10.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.