Compare towns
Needham vs Ogunquit vs New Gloucester 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
New Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Ogunquit | New Gloucester | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
1,379Lowest |
5,766 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8 22% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Needham and Ogunquit 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±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12kLowest 35% 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. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% 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. |
— | $1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.1%±7.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.7%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lexington 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 | — | #65 of 133 in ME | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | — | None in town | 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.