Compare towns
Needham vs Bow vs Needham vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k 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 | Bow | Needham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,335Lowest |
32,459 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Needham 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 165% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kLowest 114% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18kHighest 195% 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 | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kLowest 52% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 262% 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 | $2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584Lowest 207% 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 | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Needham | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Needham High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.9 |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.