Compare towns
Lenox vs Needham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Nahant has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Lenox | Needham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
32,459Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
61.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$748,800±$99k 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Needham | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Needham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.