02465 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02465
02461
Opportunity
73 · Top 16%
vs73 · Top 16%
Growth
50 · Bottom 49%
vs50 · Bottom 49%
Climate
62 · Bottom 21%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 38%
vs74 · Bottom 41%
Access
98 · Top 21%
vs99 · Top 17%
Economic stability
89 · Top 1%
vs85 · Top 5%
Measured values
| Metric | 02465 | 02461 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,697 | 6,975 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $194,265 | $224,000 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $111,387 | $109,070 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,438/sq mi | 4,544/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $1,159,200 | $1,255,400 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,270 | $2,978 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.9% | 76.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 77.8% | 88.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 3.9% | 3.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 159 | 159 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 1.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 42.0% | 42.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 85°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 18°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 42.6" | 53.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 11 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 28.2 min | 31.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.3 | 43.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 2 | 1 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.74 | 9.71 | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02465
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02461
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02465 — Newton, MA · 02461 — Newton, MA · How this is calculated: methodology