Compare towns
Newton vs Wellesley vs Natick
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).
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Wellesley | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
30,347Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Natick and Newton 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% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley 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% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Natick and Newton 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% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$138,538±$11kLowest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$821,000±$25kLowest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81 35% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,134±$124Lowest 21% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,914Lowest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 9% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Lowest 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 | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Wellesley | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Wellesley Sr High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
10.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.