Compare towns
Lexington vs Dover vs Marblehead vs Acton
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 shortest commute (31 min average).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Acton has the most affordable homes ($807k median).
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 | Marblehead | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
5,930Lowest |
20,413 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
44.9±2.3 12% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Lexington 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% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Acton 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$158,230±$14kLowest 52% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
$807,300±$20kLowest 44% 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±$233 64% above MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington 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 |
$8,309Lowest 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Marblehead | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Marblehead High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.8Lowest |
10.7 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.