Compare towns
Lexington vs Dover vs Needham
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 most renters (19.5% rent).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Lexington | Dover | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
2,308Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
— | $2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover 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 MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lexington 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.