Compare towns
Needham vs Epping vs Andover 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
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% 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 | Epping | Andover | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
7,430Lowest |
36,652Highest |
34,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Lexington 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above 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. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Epping School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Epping High School | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
9.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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.