Compare towns
Wellesley vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Newton has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Northbridge | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
16,458Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
42.1±0.9 5% above MA |
| Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wellesley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Northbridge 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$111,319±$19kLowest 7% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Northbridge | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Northbridge High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
10.8 |
| 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.