Compare towns
Newton vs Woonsocket 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).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044Highest |
43,521 |
36,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 8% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below 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%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest 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% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 136% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 280% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$821,000±$25k 147% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 68% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,134±$124 51% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | Woonsocket High School | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.