What stands out worked out from the figures below

Watertown has the most affordable homes ($785k median).

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

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	Watertown	Newton
People
Population	35,543Lowest	89,044Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+4.4% MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.3Lowest about the MA average	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	14.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	18.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Newton and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$126,265±$6kLowest 21% above MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$784,600±$31kLowest 40% above MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,502±$107Highest 42% above MA	$2,370±$81Lowest 35% above MA
	Watertown and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest 13% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.7%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Newton and Watertown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	47.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1947Highest 17 yrs older than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 5% below MA	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	29.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Newton and Watertown 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	#171 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Watertown	Newton
High school in town	Watertown High	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	10.8Lowest
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.