What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).

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

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	Rochester	Newton
People
Population	5,837Highest	4,836Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.5±6Lowest 20% above U.S.	47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S.
	Newton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Rochester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Rochester and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,273±$12kLowest 49% above U.S.	$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S.
	Newton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$599,100±$31kHighest 80% above U.S.	$459,500±$18kLowest 38% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,432±$743Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S.
	Newton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,530Lowest 109% above U.S.	$8,124Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	39.1%±10.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±41.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Newton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 38% above U.S.	30 minLowest 15% above U.S.
Work from home	8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.1%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#104 of 282 in MA	#70 of 120 in NH
School district	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.