What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newton has the most people working from home (18.1%).

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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	Middleton
People
Population	4,836Lowest	9,816Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S.	43.1±2Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Newton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$138,487±$29kLowest 72% above U.S.	$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S.
	Middleton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.	$742,700±$48kHighest 123% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S.	$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average
	Newton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,124Lowest 160% above U.S.	$8,785Highest 182% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	25.7%±25.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	92.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 15% above U.S.	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newton and Middleton 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	#70 of 120 in NH	#71 of 282 in MA
School district	Sanborn Regional School District	Middleton
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.