Lexington, MA vs Newton, MA

Lexington, MA and Newton, MA have a very similar cost of living, with only a 4.1% difference in their overall index. Lexington scores 218 while Newton scores 210 on the cost of living index, where 100 represents the national average. The day-to-day expenses for residents in both cities are comparable, though differences emerge when looking at specific categories.

On the housing front, median rent in Lexington is $2,816/month compared to $2,388/month in Newton — a 18% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Newton has cheaper rent, Lexington actually has lower median home values ($1,147,900 vs $1,202,500).

Median household income in Lexington is $219,402 compared to $184,989 in Newton (+18.6%). While Lexington is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Lexington spend roughly 15.4% of their income on rent, less than the 15.5% in Newton.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (50.5°F vs 49.7°F). Newton receives more rainfall at 53.3" per year compared to 42.6" in Lexington.