Compare towns
Needham vs Needham vs Windsor Locks 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
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Needham | Windsor Locks | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
32,459 |
12,579Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windsor Locks 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. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below 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. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,394±$187Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Highest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Lowest 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Windsor Locks School District | Lexington |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Windsor Locks High School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.