Compare towns
Concord vs Dover vs Needham vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Concord | Dover | Needham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
5,930Lowest |
32,459 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Concord and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22kLowest 88% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72k 115% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Dover and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166 49% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
$2,891±$233 64% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Concord 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Needham | Lexington |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Needham High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.