Compare towns
Winchester 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
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.5).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lexington has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Winchester | Needham | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Lowest |
32,459 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2 MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9% MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21k 121% above MA |
$214,308±$13kLowest 106% above MA |
$238,444±$18kHighest 129% above MA |
| Lexington and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kLowest 111% above MA |
$1,203,100±$35k 114% above MA |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481Lowest 29% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| 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 | 39.3%±13.3Lowest 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 | 4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.7%±3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 | #11 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.