City Town Info

Newton, MA


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Newton, Massachusetts

Introduction to Newton, Massachusetts

The Massachusetts city of Newton is located in Middlesex County on the south bank of the Charles River, about 8 miles northwest of the state capital of Boston. The city is comprised of 13 "villages", each with its own distinct character and many containing their own small downtown areas. One of these (Chestnut Hill) is home to Boston College (BC). In addition to Boston, Newton is also bordered by Wellesley (to the west), Needham (to the southwest), Waltham (to the north), and Brookline (to the east).

Known as the Garden City, Newton was settled in 1630 as part of Cambridge (whose original name was "Newtowne"). In 1688, Newton separated from Cambridge and became known as Cambridge Village and later Newtown before finally becoming Newton in 1766. The establishment of Boston and Worcester Railroad depots in 1834 fostered Newton's growth as a suburb of Boston. Incorporated as a city in 1873, Newton today is known as a regional education center. In addition to Boston College, the city is also home to Andover Newton Theological School, Mount Ida College, and Pine Manor College. Major industries in the city include publishing, computer technology, and manufacturing of precision instruments and chemicals. The city is also the birthplace of the Fig Newton.

Arts, Culture, and Entertainment in Newton

Attractive to visitors and residents alike, Newton is a vibrant college community enjoying a close proximity to the Boston metropolitan area. The city is also rich in arts and culture, featuring two symphony orchestras, a large state-of-the-art public library, resident theatre groups and many artistic treasures. The Newton History Museum at the Jackson Homestead, built in 1809 as a farmhouse, served for a period of time as a stop on the Underground Railroad and is now a museum filled with paintings, manuscripts, photographs, maps and numerous historical artifacts. The New Repertory Theatre and Newton Country Players are local theater groups, and Broadway musicals are regularly performed at the Turtle Lane Playhouse. From July through October the city hosts a popular outdoor Farmer's Market.

Almost a stone's throw away from Newton is the thriving Boston-Cambridge area, home to a multitude of popular attractions. Among them are the following:

  • JFK Presidential Library and Museum
  • The Boston Children's Museum
  • The Freedom Trail
  • The Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • Museum of Science (Cambridge)
  • Franklin Park Zoo
  • The Boston Pops
  • The Museum of Fine Arts
  • The Longfellow House (Cambridge)
  • Faneuil Hall
  • Paul Revere House
  • Prudential Center
  • New England Aquarium
  • Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Cambridge)
  • Old North Church
  • John Hancock Tower
  • Fenway Park (home of the Boston Red Sox)

The Boston College Eagles provide the city with plenty of first-rate collegiate sports action, competing in NCAA's Division I-A. Although a founding member of the Big East Conference, the Eagles left the Big East in 2005 to join the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of which they are now a member for all sports supported by the ACC. BC athletes are among the most academically successful in the nation according to the NCAA's Academic Progress Rate (APR), which in 2006 ranked 14 of its sports in the top 10 percent of the nation academically. The BC football team was involved in one of the most memorable games in college football history, 1984's Orange Bowl game, when quarterback Doug Flutie's 48-yard Hail Mary pass completion to Gerard Phelan secured a last-minute 47-45 victory over Miami.

The city of Boston is home to the following professional sports teams, all of them of major league caliber:

  • Baseball: Boston Red Sox (MLB)
  • Football: New England Patriots (NFL) (Located in Foxboro, 30 miles to the southwest)
  • Soccer: New England Revolution (MLS) (Also located in Foxboro)
  • Hockey: Boston Bruins (NHL)
  • Basketball: Boston Celtics (NBA)
  • Lacrosse: Boston Cannons (MLL)
  • World Team Tennis (WTT): Boston Lobsters

High Points

Newton strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Massachusetts):

CategoryTrophy
College Educated Adults
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyNewton College Educated Adults
Well-Paid Single Women
(vs. Peers)
Top 1%trophyNewton Well-Paid Single Women
Median Family Income
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyNewton Median Family Income
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyNewton Well-Paid Single Men
Low Property Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 2%trophyNewton Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 4%trophyNewton Low Violent Crime
Public Transportation Use
(vs. Peers)
Top 6%Newton Public Transportation Use
People in Middle Class or Better
(vs. Peers)
Top 9%Newton People in Middle Class or Better
Racial Diversity
(vs. State)
Top 12%Newton Racial Diversity
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. State)
Top 12%Newton Walking and Biking to Work

Comparative Profile of Newton, MA

Comparing Newton to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Massachusetts (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Well-Paid Single Women1010
Well-Paid Single Men1010
Female Share of the Population1010
Age of the Population96
Senior Citizens87
Racial Diversity49
Children Under 5 Years Old23
Male Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married74
Average Household Size54

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
College Educated Adults1010
Median Family Income1010
People in Middle Class or Better109
People Above Poverty96

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Working at Home109
Public Transportation Use1010
Walking and Biking to Work89
Short Commute Times47

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing96
People Living Alone57
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals47
Affordability of Property Taxes11
Affordability of Rents11
Housing Recently Built11

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Property Crime107
Low Violent Crime108

Detailed pages on related topics: Newton collegesNewton travelNewton mortgages and property.

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Additional Details

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Historic Newton

photo

Charles River (Echo Bridge, Newton) between 1895 and 1910

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Charles River (Echo Bridge, Newton) between 1895 and 1910

Hemlock Gorge (Charles River, Newton) ca. 1900

Echo Bridge (Charles River, Newton) ca. 1900

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