What is the cost of living in Newton, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Newton has an overall cost of living index of 205, which is 2.0x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Newton has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Newton ranks as #107 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Newton ranks as the #6 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Newton, check out:
Newton Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Newton. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Newton is 109.
The Groceries index in Newton is 113.
The Health index in Newton is 417.
The Housing index in Newton is 118.
The Transportation index in Newton is 123.
The Utilities index in Newton is 119.
| Living Expense | Newton | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 205 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 109 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 417 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 118 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 123 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 119 | 114 | 100 |
Newton Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Newton, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Newton is $1,528,893.
The Median Rent in Newton is $2,370.
The Median Income in Newton is $190,304.
The Home Value To Income in Newton is 8.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Newton is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Newton | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,528,893 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,370 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $190,304 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 8.0x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Newton, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Newton Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Newton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Newton Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Newton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Newton Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Newton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Newton Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Newton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Newton Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Newton | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Newton SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Newton
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Newton. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Cambridge, MA has a cost of living index of 204, 1.0x Newton.
Waltham, MA has a cost of living index of 163, 0.8x Newton.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.1x Newton.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge, MA | 118,796 | 204 | 1.0x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 0.8x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.8x |
| Lexington, MA | 34,295 | 209 | 1.0x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.2x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Reading, MA | 25,612 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Dedham, MA | 25,237 | 154 | 0.8x |
