Compare towns
Burlington vs Rowley 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 most renters (25.8% rent).
Rowley has the most affordable homes ($667k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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 | Rowley | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
6,251Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Lowest 15% above MA |
50±6.3Highest 25% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Rowley and Lexington 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% |
19.3%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Rowley 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% |
21.6%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
56.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rowley 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 41% above MA |
$132,734±$32kLowest 28% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35k 32% above MA |
$667,300±$52kLowest 19% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 54% above MA |
$1,603±$520Lowest 9% below 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rowley 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 MA: 10% |
3.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min 3% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 282 in MA | #214 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Triton | Lexington |
| High school in town | Burlington High | None in town | 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.