Compare towns
Weston vs Reading vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weston has the most expensive homes ($1694k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k 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 | Weston | Reading | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,579Lowest |
25,612 |
89,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.1Highest 12% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.1±0.9Lowest 5% above MA |
| Weston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Weston and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Reading and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.1%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Newton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$190,304±$9k 83% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,694,400±$263kHighest 201% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,264,900±$43k 125% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,085±$809 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA |
| Newton and Weston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69%±23Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±4.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Weston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
70%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Highest same as MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
27 minLowest 9% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Newton and Reading 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 | #9 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #25 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Weston | — | Newton |
| High school in town | Weston High | — | Newton North High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 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.