Compare towns
Lexington vs Dedham vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Dedham has the most affordable homes ($662k median).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Dedham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
25,237 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Marblehead and Lexington 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% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Dedham 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% |
55%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$128,955±$10kLowest 24% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$661,800±$16kLowest 18% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,918Lowest 32% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Dedham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Dedham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.