Compare towns
Lexington vs Needham vs Newfields vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Newfields has the most affordable homes ($646k median).
Concord has the most renters (24.3% rent).
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 | Needham | Newfields | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
32,459 |
2,023Lowest |
18,223 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Concord 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Concord 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Concord 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 195% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
$195,350±$22kLowest 142% above U.S. |
| 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±$35k 262% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 264% above U.S. |
| Concord and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$2,631±$166 86% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+ at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.2%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.1%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Concord 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 | — | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Needham | Newfields School District | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Needham High | None in town | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.