What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester	Newton
People
Population	207,055Highest	89,044Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	42.1±0.9Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.5%±1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Newton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	81.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	11.1%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$190,304±$9kHighest 83% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$1,264,900±$43kHighest 125% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$2,370±$81Highest 35% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±4.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	4.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA	1942Lowest 22 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	27 minHighest 9% below MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.2%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#25 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Newton
High school in town	South High Community	Newton North High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	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.