Compare towns
Lexington vs Acton vs Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Acton has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Burlington has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Lexington | Acton | Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
24,155Lowest |
26,274 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
45.9±2.2 15% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.1%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Acton and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$146,436±$14kLowest 41% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$740,600±$35kLowest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,718±$368 54% above MA |
| Lexington and Burlington 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,165Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.4%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Burlington and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
74.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.5%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Acton 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #83 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Burlington |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Burlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.