Compare towns
Newton vs Windham vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Windham | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
19,188Lowest |
36,873 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.3±1.4Highest 11% above U.S. |
| 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%±1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$388,900±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newton and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 282 in MA | #95 of 133 in ME | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | RSU 14 | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Windham High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
12.1 |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.