Is Newton cheaper than Seattle?

No. Seattle is cheaper: typical rent is $2,501 a month versus $2,941 in Newton — 15% lower. Median household income is $176,373 in Newton compared with $116,068 in Seattle, so Newton has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Newton or Seattle?

Newton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 116 in Seattle — 38% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Newton or Seattle?

Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Newton — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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City comparison

Newton, MA vs Seattle, WA

Newton, MA versus Seattle, WA is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $2,941 a month in Newton and $2,501 in Seattle, and median household income lands at $176,373 versus $116,068. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Newton takes job market, safety, and weather, while Seattle takes affordability and schools. The widest gap is median income, where Newton leads by 52% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Newton can feel further apart than Newton and Seattle do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Newton and Seattle reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Newton report Full Seattle report

Newton, MA

Rent: $2,941/mo
Median income: $176,373
Crime index: 72
Schools: A-
Weather: 69°F

Seattle, WA

Rent: $2,501/mo
Median income: $116,068
Crime index: 116
Schools: A
Weather: 66°F

Rent

15% cheaper

Seattle rent is 15% cheaper than Newton

Newton

$2,941/mo

Seattle

Winner

$2,501/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $2,501 a month in Seattle versus $2,941 in Newton, so Seattle is 15% cheaper. A meaningful but not dramatic gap. Factor it into your budget alongside salary differences between the two markets. Over a year the spread is about $5,280 — enough to notice in savings, not enough to ignore schools, safety, or pay. Seattle still wins on housing cost; just do not let a 10–20% rent edge override a job that only exists in Newton.

Median income

52% higher

Newton's median income is 52% higher than Seattle

Newton

Winner

$176,373

Seattle

$116,068

What this means for your life

Median household income is $176,373 in Newton versus $116,068 in Seattle, so typical pay runs 52% higher in Newton — about $60,305 more household income a year. Higher median income usually signals a stronger local job market and better negotiating leverage on salary. Remote workers should weigh this against cost of living rather than treating it as a direct personal benefit. For people who will actually work in town, Newton is the stronger labor market on paper. Seattle can still win if housing is cheap enough to offset the weaker median or if your specific role already pays well there.

Crime index

38% lower crime

Newton's crime index is 38% lower than Seattle

Newton

Winner

72 (100 = avg)

Seattle

116 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Newton's crime index is 72 versus 116 in Seattle (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 38% lower in Newton. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Newton is the easier city. Seattle can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

5% higher scores

Seattle's school scores are 5% higher than Newton

Newton

A- · 84/100

Seattle

Winner

A · 88/100

What this means for your life

Seattle grades out at A (88/100) against A- (84/100) in Newton — school scores run 5% higher in Seattle. The citywide gap is modest. For families with kids it is still worth checking the specific campuses you would actually use, because a small composite lead can disappear — or reverse — two neighborhoods over. Newton is only the better school story if a campus you already researched beats this composite.

Typical weather

9% more comfortable

Newton weather is 9% more comfortable than Seattle

Newton

Winner

69°F typical

Seattle

66°F typical

What this means for your life

Newton scores 9% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 69°F in Newton and 66°F in Seattle. Newton reads as mild, livable temperatures; Seattle reads as mild, livable temperatures. The comfort edge is real but not a personality transplant. If you already know you want Seattle's season, a modest index lead should not talk you out of it. If you are undecided, Newton is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Fit check

Who should choose Newton

Career-focused movers who want salary upside plus year-round outdoor access

It is also a match for career-focused movers who want salary upside and year-round outdoor access. Median household income runs 52% higher ($176,373), and typical weather is the more comfortable of the two — around 69°F. That pairing is for people who will work hard and then actually use the evenings.

Newton is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 38% lower than Seattle (72 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Newton report →

Fit check

Who should choose Seattle

Families on a budget who want good schools without coastal price tags

Seattle fits families on a budget who want good schools without coastal price tags. Lower typical rent ($2,501/month) plus stronger school scores (A) is the combination that actually changes a decade of life, not just a year of housing. Newton can still win if a specific campus or family network is already there — but on the public data, Seattle is the more forgiving place to raise kids without overextending.

Open the Seattle report →

Bottom line

Newton vs Seattle, called

If the job market is your priority, Newton is the clear choice.

If cost of living matters more to you, Seattle pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Newton offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Newton vs Seattle FAQ

Is Newton cheaper than Seattle?: No. Seattle is cheaper: typical rent is $2,501 a month versus $2,941 in Newton — 15% lower. Median household income is $176,373 in Newton compared with $116,068 in Seattle, so Newton has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Newton or Seattle?: Newton is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 72 versus 116 in Seattle — 38% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Newton or Seattle?: Seattle has better schools on this comparison: A (88/100) versus A- in Newton — school scores run 5% higher. District averages can hide campus-level gaps, so check the zoned elementary, middle, and high school you would actually use.

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