Compare towns
Lexington vs Putney vs Needham vs Acton
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).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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 | Putney | Needham | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,295Highest |
2,622Lowest |
32,459 |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Putney 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $238,444±$18kHighest 195% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14k 96% 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±$35kHighest 262% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
| 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 105% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,313Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lexington and Acton 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lexington | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Needham | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Lexington High | None in town | Needham High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.9 |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.