What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).

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.

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

Measure	Lexington	Needham
People
Population	34,295Highest	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	43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	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%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	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	$214,308±$13kLowest 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	$1,188,500±$43kLowest 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	$2,409±$183Lowest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$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%	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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	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
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Lowest 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	#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 Our Story	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.