Compare towns
Wellesley vs Hadley vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the highest household income ($250k).
Hadley has the most affordable homes ($511k median).
Newton has the most renters (30% rent).
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 | Wellesley | Hadley | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
5,306Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Hadley and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$119,259±$12kLowest 15% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$511,000±$43kLowest 9% below MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,271Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Wellesley and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest 7% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hadley | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Hopkins Academy | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.3Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.