Compare towns
Lexington vs Middleton 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%).
Middleton has the most affordable homes ($743k median).
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 | Middleton | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
9,816Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
43.1±2Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest 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% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Middleton 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% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Middleton 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 |
$167,402±$29kLowest 61% 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 |
$742,700±$48kLowest 32% above 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,785Lowest 47% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #71 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Middleton | Needham |
| High school in town | Lexington High | None in town | 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.