Compare towns
Needham vs Ogunquit vs Lexington vs Dover
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 youngest population (median age 43.1).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Lexington has the most renters (19.5% rent).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k 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 | Ogunquit | Lexington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,379Lowest |
34,295Highest |
2,308 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
47.5±4 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.8 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
83.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 165% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$238,444±$18k 195% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kLowest 163% above U.S. |
$1,203,100±$35k 262% above U.S. |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 293% above U.S. |
| 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±$183Lowest 70% above U.S. |
— | $2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
37.4%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | Lexington | — |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | Lexington High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.