Compare towns
Concord vs Everett vs Needham vs Lincoln
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 oldest population (median age 47.6).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Everett | Needham | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,223 |
50,045Highest |
32,459 |
6,948Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.3±4.1 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.3%±5.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lincoln 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Concord and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 88% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$175,117±$44k 68% above MA |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$1,208,200±$132k 115% above MA |
| Concord and Lincoln 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 |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$3,168±$573Highest 80% above MA |
| Lincoln and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.6%±18.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lincoln and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 11% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Concord and Lincoln 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #78 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Everett | Needham | Lincoln · Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Everett High | Needham High | Minuteman Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
8.1Lowest |
| 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.