Compare towns
Needham vs Boston 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%).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% rent).
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 | Boston | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
666,442Highest |
34,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$97,344±$2kLowest 6% 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 |
$731,700±$10kLowest 30% above 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 |
$2,147±$25Lowest 22% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Boston 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% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Lowest 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 | #258 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Boston Latin School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
18.7Highest |
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.