Compare towns
Danvers vs Lexington vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has the most affordable homes ($644k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Danvers | Lexington | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,098Lowest |
34,295Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±3 13% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Lexington and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,395±$10kLowest 21% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $644,200±$23kLowest 15% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.8%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Needham 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Lexington | — |
| High school in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Lexington High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.