Newton, MA vs Somerville, MA

Somerville is moderately more affordable than Newton, with a 12% lower cost of living index. Newton scores 210 compared to 187 for Somerville, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Newton can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Newton is $2,388/month compared to $2,468/month in Somerville — a 3% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Newton has cheaper rent, Somerville actually has lower median home values ($899,400 vs $1,202,500).

Median household income in Newton is $184,989 compared to $127,056 in Somerville (+45.6%). While Newton is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Newton spend roughly 15.5% of their income on rent, less than the 23.3% in Somerville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.7°F vs 51.9°F). Newton receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 43.6" in Somerville.