Compare towns
Burlington vs Needham vs Ogunquit vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the most affordable homes ($741k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Burlington | Needham | Ogunquit | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 26,274 |
32,459 |
1,379Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kLowest 123% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 92% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165 98% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Needham | — | — |
| High school in town | Burlington High | Needham High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.