Compare towns
Burlington vs Reading vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Reading has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Lexington has the most expensive homes ($1203k median).
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 | Reading | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
25,612Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 54% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,165Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | — | Lexington |
| High school in town | Burlington High | — | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.