Compare towns
Concord vs Salem 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 oldest population (median age 47.6).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Salem | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
44,795Highest |
34,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
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%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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±$22k 88% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| 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 49% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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 MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Salem | Lexington |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Salem High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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.