Population 19,496 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Newton Center
Household size in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.64 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.67 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.69 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.70 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Newton Center average 2.70 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the Boston area overall, where it has 2.55 people. Household size has crept up from 2.64 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.2 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.8 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +4.3 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Newton Center skews older: half of its residents are older than 46.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 41.8 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.9% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Newton Center: 3.1% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only one other Massachusetts city with 5,000+ people has a lower share of single-parent households.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Newton Center
Renters in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 20.1% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 15.4% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.0% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Newton Center is largely a place of homeowners: only 16.0% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. More than four in ten owners (42.8%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has fallen 4.1 points, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.8% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.6% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 5.1% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Newton Center: just 5.1% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.7 points, in line with the national trend.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1948 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1947 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1947 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1949 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Newton Center is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1949, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the north. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only 14 have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,429 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,589 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,105 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,781 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,352 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Newton Center costs $2,781 a month with utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,352 a month from 2006–10, a 95% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 25.0% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. The priciest rents are in the northwest; the most affordable are in the southwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Newton Center
Bachelor's degrees in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 80.6% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 82.4% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 86.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 86.1% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.5 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
College graduates are unusually common in Newton Center: 86.1% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's degree or higher, against 35.6% nationally. Education tends to track local incomes and the kinds of jobs nearby. The share with a degree has risen 5.5 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people, only four have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 98.5% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 98.7% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 99.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 98.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
Finishing high school is nearly universal in Newton Center: 98.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Only eight of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of high school graduates.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Newton Center
| Period | Newton Center | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.7% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.4% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Newton Center runs below the national rate: 3.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Newton Center compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Center | 2.70 | 46.1 | 3.1% | 16.0% | 5.1% | 1949 | $2,781 | 86.1% | 98.8% | 3.8% |
| Newton Highlands | 2.55 | 43.9 | 3.9% | 29.2% | 5.3% | 1950 | $2,340 | 85.3% | 97.7% | 3.5% |
| Chestnut Hill | 2.70 | 38.4 | 6.6% | 26.6% | 7.5% | 1951 | $2,737 | 85.4% | 96.4% | 3.0% |
| Newton Upper Falls | 2.58 | 44.0 | 4.1% | 30.0% | 5.2% | 1947 | $2,278 | 76.6% | 96.2% | 4.3% |
| Waban | 2.84 | 48.3 | 6.2% | 12.0% | 4.0% | 1947 | $2,364 | 89.3% | 97.7% | 4.8% |
| Newton | 2.55 | 40.8 | 7.8% | 38.3% | 6.7% | 1944 | $2,362 | 76.6% | 96.5% | 3.9% |
| Newtonville | 2.64 | 43.3 | 4.9% | 43.2% | 6.7% | 1943 | $2,603 | 80.4% | 98.3% | 3.5% |
| Brighton | 2.00 | 31.4 | 6.1% | 76.3% | 6.9% | 1956 | $2,204 | 72.1% | 88.7% | 3.6% |
| Auburndale | 2.56 | 37.2 | 5.9% | 36.8% | 9.7% | 1953 | $2,265 | 77.6% | 95.3% | 2.8% |
| Newton Lower Falls | 2.50 | 42.7 | 2.7% | 27.4% | 9.9% | 1952 | $2,646 | 78.9% | 94.9% | 1.5% |
| Needham | 2.74 | 43.5 | 6.5% | 16.9% | 4.3% | 1968 | $2,423 | 81.9% | 97.8% | 4.1% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: East Massapequa, NY · Sudley, VA · Sturgis, MI · Stroudsburg, PA · Stevenson Ranch, CA · Sterling, IL · St. Marys, GA · St. John, IN · Sparta, TN · Southbury, CT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Newton Center. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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