Living in Newton, MA offers a suburban lifestyle with a strong sense of history and community. Known as the 'Garden City,' Newton is celebrated for its beautiful parks, tree-lined streets, and historic homes. The city is made up of 13 distinct villages, each with its own unique charm and character, offering residents a close-knit community feel.
Newton’s dining scene is diverse and sophisticated, featuring a mix of local eateries, upscale restaurants, and international cuisine. The city’s annual Harvest Fair is a beloved event, bringing together residents for a weekend of food, music, and family-friendly activities. The Newton Free Library, one of the largest and most active libraries in the state, serves as a cultural and educational hub for the community.
For those who enjoy the outdoors, Newton offers plenty of green spaces and recreational opportunities. The Charles River runs through the city, providing scenic spots for kayaking, canoeing, and walking along the riverbanks. The city’s parks, including Cold Spring Park and Nahanton Park, offer trails, sports facilities, and picnic areas.
Newton’s location near Boston provides easy access to the amenities of a major city while maintaining a peaceful, suburban atmosphere. The city is well-connected by public transportation, including the MBTA’s Green Line, making commuting convenient. Newton is also renowned for its excellent schools, making it a popular choice for families.
For those considering a move to Massachusetts, Newton offers a perfect blend of suburban tranquility, historical charm, and modern amenities. Whether you're drawn by its beautiful parks, vibrant community events, or proximity to Boston, living in Newton, MA provides a well-rounded and enriching lifestyle.
Commute
An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.
Crime
Crime per 100,000 people is significantly lower than the national average, making it a safe place to live. These crime statistics include both violent and property crimes.
Employment
Higher than average median household income, income per capita and lower unemployment rates are seen in this area. The result is a high score in the employment category.
Health & Safety
Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.
Schools
The schools category earns a high score due to factors like exceptional test scores, strong education levels and the close proximity of elementary and high schools in this area.
Amenities
The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.
Cost Of Living
Living in this region comes with a high cost of living, translating to elevated costs for homes, goods and services, groceries, utilities, health care and transportation.
Newton, Massachusetts is a mid-sized city with a population of 88,322 people. In Newton, there are 4,954 people per square mile, which is well above the national population density average. According to the most recent Census, 76% of Newton residents are White, 15% Asian and 3% Black. Long travel times to work can be one of the most frustrating things in the world - right behind housework! If you decide that living in Newton is the right fit for you, your one way commute time will average 28 minutes, which is about average when compared to the national commute time of 26 minutes.
Are you trying to decide if living in Newton is the right fit for your lifestyle? To ensure a great experience before moving to any new city in Massachusetts, you will probably want to make sure that you check all of the most important boxes. Several key factors deserve attention. For one, safety is paramount, ensuring that your new area is low in crime is key. Proximity to workplaces or schools minimizes commute times and fosters convenience. Access to essential amenities like parks, grocery stores, food, fitness, shops and healthcare facilities enhances daily life. Efficient public transportation options provide mobility and connectivity. The sense of community creates a welcoming and supportive environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere, encompassing the vibe, aesthetics, and lifestyle offerings, contributes to a fulfilling living experience. Considering these elements helps identify the ideal neighborhood for your needs and preferences. Finding the best places to live in Newton and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, commute, education, employment, housing and other important metrics.
With a livability score of 83 out of 100, Newton is ranked #565 in the United States and #20 in Massachusetts. Based on this score, Newton would be considered a very livable city! Newton also ranks in the top 10 percent of all cities, which is no small feat! There are nine total categories that generate the livability score. Newton ranks well for crime (A+) and education (A+) Unfortunately for Newton, there are some categories for which it does not score well, this includes: amenities (D-) and cost of living (F).
Feeling a sense of safety in the area that you live in is a must for most people. Low crime rates can have a positive impact on things like home prices, home appreciation rates and can help foster positive community dynamics and social cohesion. Newton has a violent crime rate of 65 crimes per 100,000 residents which is far lower than the national average.
The unemployment rate in Newton has consistently declined over the years and currently stands well below the national average at 2.14%. This downward trend holds the potential to reduce poverty and inequality within the region, promote higher wage levels and stimulate greater economic growth. Such positive indicators signal the overall robust health of the local economy, offering a promising outlook for its residents and fostering an environment of financial well-being and prosperity.
Standardized school test scores offer a valuable benchmark for assessing the quality of educational programs, instructional methods, and curriculum effectiveness. Recognizing that Newton schools excel in test scores is a crucial consideration when determining the suitability of this area for residence. The local schools boast an impressive average test score of 73%, significantly higher than the national average. This stellar academic performance not only attests to the excellence of the educational system but also underscores the area's commitment to providing a high-quality education, making Newton an appealing choice for those prioritizing their children's educational prospects.
Newton real estate prices and overall affordability will play a huge role in determining if the area is the right fit for you. Of course there are probably some other items on your “wish list”, but even before they are considered, let’s take a look at the home prices and affordability in Newton. The median home price for Newton homes is $952,100, which is 179.2% higher than the Massachusetts average. If we take a closer look at the affordability of homes in Newton, we’ll see that the home price to income ratio is 6.2, which is 29.2% higher than the Massachusetts average.
| Statistic | Newton | Massachusetts | National |
| Average one way commute | 28min | 29min | 26min |
| Workers who drive to work | 58.5% | 71.1% | 76.4% |
| Workers who carpool | 6.7% | 7.5% | 9.3% |
| Workers who take public transit | 12.9% | 9.9% | 5.1% |
| Workers who bicycle | 0.8% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Workers who walk | 6.5% | 4.9% | 2.8% |
| Working from home | 13.9% | 4.7% | 4.6% |
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