What are the schools like in Newton, MA?

Newton is served primarily by Newton. The district operates 15 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.5:1.

What is the median household income in Newton?

The median household income in Newton, MA is $176,373 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Newton, MA?

Newton has an average high temperature of 37.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 49.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 45.7 inches.

Newton, MA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Newton, MA affordable or expensive?

Newton's cost of living index is 112, where 100 represents the national average. This means Newton is 12% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $1,136,200 and the median rent is $2,252 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Newton, MA?

Newton has a violent crime rate of 48.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 599.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Newton, MA a Good Place to Live?

Newton is a mid-sized city of 88,453 in Massachusetts, with a median household income of $176,373 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.

Strengths: Newton stands out for lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices. Whether Newton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Newton city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 111.6

Newton's overall cost of living index is 111.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Newton costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.

Metric	Newton, MA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$1,136,200	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$2,252	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	70.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$176,373	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Newton's violent crime rate is 48.9 per 100,000 residents — 87% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

48.9 /100k

Property Crime

599.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Newton is served primarily by Newton. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Newton, MA	National Avg
School District	Newton	—
Elementary Schools	15	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.5:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	80.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Newton sees average highs of 37.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July, with 49.4 inches of annual precipitation and 45.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Newton, MA
Average High — January	37.0°F
Average High — July	84.7°F
Annual Precipitation	49.4"
Annual Snowfall	45.7"

Demographics

Metric	Newton, MA	National Avg
Population	88,453	—
Median Age	41.7	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	27.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	74.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	14.3%	6.3%
Under 18	20.8%	22.2%
65 and over	18.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Watertown Town, MA 3 mi Brookline, MA 3 mi Needham, MA 4 mi Wellesley, MA 4 mi Waltham, MA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Newton

Newton, MA is covered by 9 ZIP codes:

02459 02465 02458 02466 02468 02461 02460 02462 02464

Newton vs Other Cities

Newton, MA vs Watertown Town, MA Newton, MA vs Brookline, MA Newton, MA vs Needham, MA Newton, MA vs Wellesley, MA Newton, MA vs Waltham, MA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newton, MA affordable or expensive?

Newton's cost of living index is 112, where 100 is the national average. That puts Newton roughly 12% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $1,136,200 and median rent is $2,252/month.

What is the crime rate in Newton, MA?

Newton's violent crime rate is 48.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 599.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Newton?

Public schools in Newton are operated by Newton. The district has 15 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.5:1. 80.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Newton, MA a good place to live?

Newton, MA has a population of 88,453, a median household income of $176,373, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Newton?

Newton averages 37.0°F in January and 84.7°F in July. Annual rainfall is 49.4 inches with about 45.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Newton?

Newton, MA is covered by 9 ZIP codes: 02459, 02465, 02458, 02466, 02468, 02461, 02460, 02462, 02464.

What is the population of Newton?

The population of Newton, Massachusetts is 88,453 with a median age of 41.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Newton?

Key numbers for living in Newton: cost of living index 112 (100 = US average), median home $1,136,200, median household income $176,373, crime index 19 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Newton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.