Compare towns
Wellesley vs Needham 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 most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Wellesley | Needham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,347Lowest |
32,459 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest 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+ | 15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$238,444±$18k 129% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,886±$360 64% above MA |
$2,409±$183Lowest 37% 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+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+ at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 32%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wellesley | Needham | Lexington |
| High school in town | Wellesley Sr High | Needham High | Lexington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.