Compare towns
Needham vs Athol vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Athol has the most affordable homes ($268k median).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
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.
| Measure | Needham | Athol | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
12,011Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 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+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 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 | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% 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 | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% 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 | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
27 minLowest 8% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.