Compare towns
Burlington vs Rye 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).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Rye | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,274 |
5,611Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±2.2Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$14k 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kLowest 74% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $740,600±$35kLowest 123% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89k 209% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,718±$368 92% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% 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 | $6,165Lowest 98% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.5%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Burlington | Rye School District | 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 |
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.