Population 34,138 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lexington
Household size in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.66 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.75 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.80 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.76 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.09 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in Lexington average 2.76 people, a bit above the national 2.65, so families with children are somewhat more common here. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.66, even as the national average fell. Households are largest in the southwest and smallest in the center.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.6 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.3 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.7 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.5 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.8 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
Lexington skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.5, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 45.6 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.5% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.8% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 5.1% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 7.1% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 7.1% of households in Lexington, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 points, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lexington
Renters in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 17.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 18.0% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.2% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 19.4% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.2 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Lexington is largely a place of homeowners: only 19.4% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.8% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share has risen 2.2 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Lexington: just 3.3% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 3.3 points, as it has nationally. Lexington has a lower vacancy rate than at least four in five Massachusetts cities.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1959 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1961 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1966 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
The housing in Lexington is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1966, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1959 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the center.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,594 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,507 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,416 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,896 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,302 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in Lexington runs $2,896 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,302 a month from 2006–10, an 82% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. Rent takes 31.3% of the typical renter's income, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lexington
Bachelor's degrees in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 77.7% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 76.7% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 84.7% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 83.8% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
Lexington is highly educated: just over eight in ten adults 25 and older (83.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 6.2 points, in line with the national trend. Only 11 of the 275 Massachusetts cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 97.4% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.7% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 98.4% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.8% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | −0.7 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lexington: 96.8% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is down 0.7 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate rose.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lexington
| Period | Lexington | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.0% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.7% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Lexington has been strong: just 2.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 1.7 points, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lexington compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington | 2.76 | 47.5 | 7.1% | 19.4% | 3.3% | 1966 | $2,896 | 83.8% | 96.8% | 2.8% |
| Hanscom Afb | 2.92 | 27.6 | 16.0% | 95.5% | 5.9% | 1975 | $3,326 | 41.1% | 99.8% | 0.8% |
| Arlington | 2.41 | 42.6 | 5.2% | 38.4% | 5.6% | 1947 | $2,047 | 76.9% | 98.1% | 2.8% |
| Winchester | 2.82 | 43.4 | 6.6% | 18.3% | 3.0% | 1952 | $2,573 | 79.9% | 97.0% | 3.9% |
| Waltham | 2.25 | 37.4 | 7.4% | 50.3% | 5.6% | 1964 | $2,231 | 58.5% | 92.6% | 3.9% |
| Bedford | 2.51 | 45.0 | 4.1% | 31.3% | 2.8% | 1973 | $2,394 | 68.7% | 96.1% | 5.1% |
| Burlington | 2.62 | 45.9 | 5.7% | 25.7% | 4.5% | 1974 | $2,524 | 58.3% | 95.7% | 4.5% |
| Belmont | 2.61 | 44.3 | 7.1% | 34.7% | 5.9% | 1946 | $2,468 | 80.9% | 97.6% | 4.5% |
| Woburn | 2.58 | 39.8 | 7.7% | 44.5% | 5.6% | 1968 | $2,208 | 46.3% | 94.7% | 7.5% |
| Lincoln | 2.38 | 53.3 | 6.4% | 23.0% | 8.9% | 1973 | $2,797 | 89.0% | 97.4% | 2.8% |
| Watertown Town | 2.17 | 40.8 | 5.7% | 52.3% | 5.9% | 1952 | $2,543 | 66.5% | 94.5% | 4.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Bel Air North, MD · Montrose, CO · SeaTac, WA · Saratoga, CA · Santa Paula, CA · Pearl, MS · Pasadena, MD · Orange, NJ · Ooltewah, TN · North Olmsted, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lexington. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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