Compare towns
Needham vs Everett vs Winchester 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 the shortest commute (28 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Lexington has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Everett | Winchester | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
50,045Highest |
23,406Lowest |
34,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.5±1.9 6% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett 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 106% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Winchester and Lexington 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 |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,279±$481 29% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.7% MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #11 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Everett | Winchester | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | Everett High | Winchester High School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
14.8Highest |
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.