Compare towns
Winchester vs Reading 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 most kids (27.6% under 18).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($809k median).
Lexington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Winchester | Reading | Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,406Lowest |
25,612 |
34,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
47.3±0.8Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Winchester and Lexington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.7%±1.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lexington and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Winchester and Lexington 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 |
$165,912±$13kLowest 60% 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 |
$809,000±$22kLowest 44% 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±$481 29% above MA |
$1,991±$273Lowest 13% above MA |
$2,891±$233Highest 64% above MA |
| Lexington and Winchester 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 |
$9,320Lowest 56% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.1%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lexington and Winchester 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3 MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Lowest 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #2 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Reading | — |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | Reading Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.