Compare towns
Lexington vs Maynard vs Needham 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 the highest household income ($238k).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Maynard | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
10,712Lowest |
32,459 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 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 |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Lexington and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Lexington and Needham 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 |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 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% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
75%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Maynard | Needham | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Maynard High | Needham High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.