Compare towns
Wellesley vs Chilmark vs Lexington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wellesley has the youngest population (median age 37.1).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Lexington has the most affordable homes ($1203k 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 | Wellesley | Chilmark | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347 |
1,578Lowest |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.3±0.8 18% above MA |
| Chilmark and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lexington and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$168,750±$28kLowest 62% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49k 182% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35kLowest 114% above MA |
| Chilmark and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,750±$2kLowest 56% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lexington and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | — | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Up-Island Regional | Lexington |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | None in town | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
— | 11.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.