Newton, MA vs Santa Barbara, CA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Newton
69.4
#1220 nationally
Santa Barbara
59.8
#1944 nationally
Newton leads in crime level (1.3 vs 17.8). Newton leads in median household income ($176,373 vs $98,346). Santa Barbara leads in average commute (17.6 min vs 27.1 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Newton, MA | Santa Barbara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 69.4 (#1220) | 59.8 (#1944) |
| Population | 88,415 | 86,499 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $1,540,226 | $1,848,325 |
| Median Household Income | $176,373 | $98,346 |
| Average Commute | 27.1 min | 17.6 min |
| Walk Score | 57 | 61 |
| Crime Level | 1.3 | 17.8 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 207 | 225 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+39.5 | D+26.7 |
D+
69.4 Score
Newton, MA
Massachusetts community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,540,226
Population
88,415
Crime
Very Low
Walk Score
57
Northeast
View Newton, MA →
F
59.8 Score
Santa Barbara, CA
California community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$1,848,325
Population
86,499
Crime
High
Walk Score
61
Pacific
View Santa Barbara, CA →
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