The Town FilesNewton, Massachusetts
City in Middlesex County · population 88,923 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $1,264,900
- Household income
- $190,304
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 42.1
Newton is a city of 88,923 people in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $1,264,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks better transit than 99% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 96% of Massachusetts towns.
How Newton ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Newton is worth $1,264,900, above the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 6.6 times the median household income of $190,304, which is more affordable than 13% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $2,370 a month. 70.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Newton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,264,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $2,370 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $190,304 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.6× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 70.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1942 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.0% | — |
Who lives in Newton
| People | Newton | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.1 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 81.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 1.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 24.3% | — |
| Work from home | 32.2% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 26.6 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in Newton
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F. About 49.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.7 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 20 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 121 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. The strongest, an F1, struck on August 7, 1986 about 8.8 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 6 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on August 7, 1986.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 37 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 4, 2015.
Severe weather in Middlesex County since 1996
Middlesex County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, other, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| July 19, 2018 | Snowstorm | DR-4379: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| April 13, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4214: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Middlesex County
Middlesex County had 926,104 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $113,704 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Newton itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Newton
20 public schools with 11,023 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton North High | 9-12 | 2,118 | 11.3 |
| Newton South High | 9-12 | 1,861 | 12.4 |
| F A Day Middle | 6-8 | 868 | 11.4 |
| Charles E Brown Middle | 6-8 | 732 | 11.3 |
| Oak Hill Middle | 6-8 | 648 | 10.0 |
| Cabot | K-5 | 428 | 12.6 |
| Bigelow Middle | 6-8 | 414 | 10.4 |
| Zervas | K-5 | 399 | 11.7 |
| A E Angier | K-5 | 384 | 10.4 |
| Countryside | K-5 | 360 | 10.9 |
| C C Burr | K-5 | 355 | 10.8 |
| Bowen | K-5 | 355 | 11.8 |
Towns near Newton
- Brookline, MA3.4 mi · 63,191 people · home $1,246,800
- Needham, MA3.9 mi · 32,091 people · home $1,188,500
- Wellesley, MA4.2 mi · 29,550 people · home $1,582,700
- Waltham, MA4.3 mi · 65,218 people · home $748,700
- Belmont, MA4.6 mi · 27,295 people · home $1,159,000
- Weston, MA5.2 mi · 11,851 people · home $1,694,400
- Cambridge, MA5.5 mi · 118,403 people · home $1,092,100
- Dedham, MA6.0 mi · 25,364 people · home $661,800
Newton questions
Is Newton, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Newton scores better for retirees than 67% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 6%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.1).
How much does a house cost in Newton?
The median owner-occupied home in Newton is valued at $1,264,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $190,304, so homes cost about 6.6 times income. Median rent is $2,370 a month.
What is the weather like in Newton?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 19.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.4 inches of precipitation a year and 45.7 inches of snow.
Does Newton get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Newton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on August 7, 1986. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)