Compare towns
Needham vs Upton vs Lawrence vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Upton | Lawrence | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
8,189Lowest |
88,736Highest |
34,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Lexington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Lawrence 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $214,308±$13k 106% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$415,200±$23kLowest 26% below MA |
$1,203,100±$35kHighest 114% 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 |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lawrence | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Blackstone Valley | Lawrence High School | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
11.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.