What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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.

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

Measure	Newton	Worcester
People
Population	89,044Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Newton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 9% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#25 of 282 in MA	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Newton	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Newton North High	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.