Compare towns
Lexington vs Methuen 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 people working from home (36.7%).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Methuen | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295 |
53,475Highest |
32,459Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Methuen 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±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$113,310±$7kLowest 9% above MA |
$214,308±$13k 106% 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 |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% 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 |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Needham 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Methuen | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Methuen High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.9 |
| 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.