Compare towns
Needham vs Chilmark vs Marblehead 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).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Marblehead has the most affordable homes ($944k median).
Lexington has the highest household income ($238k).
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 | Chilmark | Marblehead | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,578Lowest |
20,413 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Chilmark and Marblehead 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% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Marblehead 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% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Marblehead 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 |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above 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 |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$943,900±$31kLowest 68% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,750±$2k 56% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Lexington 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Marblehead 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 | — | #47 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Up-Island Regional | Marblehead | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | Marblehead High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.