Compare towns
Needham vs Lexington vs Andover
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%).
Lexington has the most people working from home (36.7%).
Andover has the most affordable homes ($856k median).
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 | Lexington | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,459Lowest |
34,295 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
42.9±1Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.6%±1.8Lowest 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% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
$172,606±$16kLowest 66% 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 |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% above MA |
$855,600±$22kLowest 52% 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 |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
$2,201±$129Lowest 25% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
79.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.4%±2.1Lowest 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 | #2 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Lexington | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Needham High | Lexington High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.