Compare towns
Exeter vs Lexington vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Lexington | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
34,295Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #2 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lexington | Needham |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lexington High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.