Compare towns
Newton vs Worcester 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 most expensive homes ($1265k median).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Natick has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 89,044 |
207,055Highest |
36,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% 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%±1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$138,538±$11k 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$821,000±$25k 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,134±$124 21% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$8,914 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 9% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #25 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Newton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Natick |
| High school in town | Newton North High | South High Community | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.