Compare towns
Needham vs Underhill vs Williston 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 homeowners (83.1%).
Underhill has the youngest population (median age 38.1).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Underhill | Williston | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
3,141Lowest |
10,144 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38.1±11.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
47.3±0.8Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lexington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.8%±10.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Underhill and Needham 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lexington and Williston 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% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$92,267±$54kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% 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. |
$446,000±$24kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% 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. |
— | $1,832±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$2,891±$233Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,697 115% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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%±18.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | None in town | 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.