Newton, MA Local Data & Statistics

State: MA

Total population: 89,044 Household income: $190,304 Rent: $2,370

Overview

Total population

89,044

Rent

$2,370

Year built

1942

Household income

$190,304

Per capita income

$97,547

Poverty rate

4.5%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Household size

2.6 persons

Rent over 30% of income

40.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

Total population

89,044

Adults over 25

60,089

Total households

32,194

Household size

2.6 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$190,304

Per capita income

$97,547

Poverty rate

4.5%

Unemployment rate

3.4%

Rent over 30% of income

40.7%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$2,370

Year built

1942

Households that rent

30%

Households that own

70%

Rooms per home (all homes)

6.7

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

69.4%

Black

2.4%

Asian

17.5%

Two or more races

7.9%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

4.5%

Not Hispanic or Latino

95.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

67.8%

Commute time to work

27 mins

Work from home

32.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

High school graduate or GED

6.2%

Some college or associate degree

4.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

81.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Newton, MA with: Massachusetts United States

Newton, MA

Total population89,044

Rent$2,370

Year built1942

Household income$190,304

Per capita income$97,547

Poverty rate4.5%

Unemployment rate3.4%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	CityNewton, MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	89,044	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$2,370	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1942	1964	1980
Household income	$190,304	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$97,547	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	4.5%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	4%	4%

View the complete comparison of Newton, MA, Massachusetts and United States →

Summary for Newton, MA

Newton is located in Massachusetts.

Rent & Income

In Newton, the typical monthly rent is $2,370 and the typical household income is $190,304. Rent here is higher than in both Massachusetts and the U.S., and household income is also higher than in both. The estimated poverty rate is 4.5%, which is lower than in both Massachusetts and national.

Housing & Affordability

This area is primarily owner-occupied, with renters accounting for about 30% of households. About 40.7% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 81.1% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The local unemployment rate is 3.4%, which is lower than both Massachusetts and the national rate.

Newton, MA — Rent vs Household Income

Newton, MA — Poverty vs Unemployment

How Newton, MA compares in Massachusetts (23 places)

Metric	This place	Rank	Starts from	Statewide range
Rent	$2,370	20 / 23	from lower rent	$1,137 – $2,787
Household income	$190,304	1 / 23	from higher income	$52,656 – $190,304
Poverty rate	4.5%	1 / 23	from lower poverty	4.5% – 25.8%
Unemployment rate	3.4%	3 / 23	from lower unemployment	3.1% – 6.1%

Rankings are calculated among cities and communities in Massachusetts with total population > 50,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for Newton, MA

Rent

Rent prices put Newton in 20th place among 23 large communities in Massachusetts. Across Massachusetts, rents range from $1,137 in New Bedford, MA up to $2,787 in Cambridge, MA.

Household income

In terms of household income, Newton comes in 1st among 23 major places. Across Massachusetts, income levels vary from $52,656 in Springfield, MA to $190,304 in Newton, MA.

Poverty rate

For poverty rates, Newton is ranked 1st among 23 major areas. Across Massachusetts, poverty runs from 4.5% in Newton, MA to 25.8% in Springfield, MA.

Unemployment rate

For unemployment, Newton ranks 3rd out of 23 large places. Across Massachusetts, unemployment ranges from 3.1% in Somerville, MA to 6.1% in Springfield, MA.

💰 Rent in Newton, MA (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $2,370 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Newton, MA

Annual Household Income: $190,304

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Newton, MA

Estimated Rate: 4.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Newton, MA

In Newton, MA, households that rent: 9,662 (30%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	9,662	30%
Owner-Occupied	22,532	70%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Newton, MA

In Newton, MA, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 3,931 (40.7%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	3,931	40.7%
Other renter households	5,731	59.3%
Total renter households	9,662	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Newton, MA

Less than High School: 4,828 people (8%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 3,708 people (6.2%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,795 people (4.7%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 48,758 people (81.1%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 60,089

📊 Unemployment Rate in Newton, MA

Estimated Rate: 3.4%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

Similar Population

Waukegan, IL88,919 Clifton, NJ89,247 Bloomington, MN88,838 Champaign, IL88,822 Fort Smith, AR89,496 Greenville, NC88,540 San Leandro, CA88,531 Merced, CA89,766 Lawrence, MA88,297 Santa Fe, NM88,224

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.