Compare towns
Needham vs Canton vs Dover 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).
Canton has the most affordable homes ($711k median).
Dover has the most homeowners (97.9%).
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 | Canton | Dover | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
24,748 |
2,308Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
42.6±2.3Lowest 7% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Dover and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Canton 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% |
67.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
83.4% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$143,381±$9kLowest 38% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 111% above MA |
$710,600±$27kLowest 26% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Dover 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 |
$2,315±$178Lowest 31% above MA |
— | $2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,560Lowest 9% above 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% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
5.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
36 min 23% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Lexington 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Canton High | — | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
13.1Highest |
— | 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.