Compare towns
Lexington vs Needham vs Reading vs Concord
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 highest household income ($238k).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k 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 | Reading | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
32,459 |
25,612 |
18,223Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.6±2Highest 19% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±2.6 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%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Concord 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 |
$214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% above MA |
$195,350±$22k 88% 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±$35k 114% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% above MA |
$1,210,000±$72kHighest 115% above MA |
| 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 64% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,631±$166 49% above MA |
| 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+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.2%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 5% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.1%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #10 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Needham | Reading | Concord · Concord-Carlisle |
| High school in town | Lexington High | Needham High | Reading Memorial High | Concord Carlisle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.9 |
12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.