Compare towns
Wellesley vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Walpole | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
26,388Lowest |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA |
| Newton and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Wellesley 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% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Newton and Walpole 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% |
67.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$171,500±$16kLowest 65% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$687,100±$20kLowest 22% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$2,205±$222Lowest 25% above MA |
$2,370±$81 35% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,523Lowest 42% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Lowest 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Newton |
| High school in town | — | Walpole High | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.