Compare towns
Concord vs Reading 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
Concord has the most renters (24.3% rent).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Reading | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223 |
699Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2 22% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Reading and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lexington and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Lexington 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 142% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
| Concord and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166 86% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Lexington 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Lexington |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.