Compare towns
Needham vs Gray 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k 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 | Gray | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,429Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Gray 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% |
19%±4Lowest 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%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Gray 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% 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. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 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% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.5Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.