Compare towns
Lexington vs Exeter vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Exeter | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
16,151Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Marblehead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lexington 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 195% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,309Lowest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Exeter High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.