What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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

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	Milton	Lexington
People
Population	28,587Lowest	34,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.8Lowest about the MA average	47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA
Kids under 18	25.3%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	25.5%±1.8Highest 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+	16.1%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	71.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	84.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$188,529±$15kLowest 81% above MA	$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$933,200±$31kLowest 66% above MA	$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$281Lowest 16% below MA	$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,677Lowest 61% above MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.7%±20.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	50.1%±7.1Highest 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	85.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	31 minLowest 5% above MA
Work from home	29.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#55 of 282 in MA	#2 of 282 in MA
School district	Milton	Lexington
High school in town	Milton High	Lexington High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	11.4Lowest
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.