Compare towns
Needham vs Ware vs Dedham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Dedham has the oldest housing (typical home built 1956).
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 | Ware | Dedham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,459 |
10,048Lowest |
25,237 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 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%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Lexington 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 106% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above 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 |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above 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 |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
80.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Needham | Ware | Dedham | Lexington |
| High school in town | Needham High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Dedham High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.4Lowest |
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.