Compare towns
Lexington vs Lexington vs Needham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
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 | Lexington | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
34,295Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 129% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$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% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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 MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #2 of 282 in MA | #2 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 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.