What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

Milton has the most affordable homes ($933k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lexington	Milton
People
Population	34,295Highest	28,587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	25.3%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Lexington and Milton 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%	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA	$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lexington and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7% MA: 10%	4.7% MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#2 of 282 in MA	#55 of 282 in MA
School district	Lexington	Milton
High school in town	Lexington High	Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.