States › Massachusetts › Lexington

Is Lexington, MA expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 15 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$3,27787% higher than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$257,162about $21,430/month · 195% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$1,203,100262% higher than U.S. average

Rent here is among the highest 10% in the country. Household incomes are higher than in 100% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.7 years of household income. Commutes are long, about 30.7 minutes each way. Most homes (80.5%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find. It is a highly educated city: 84.3% of adults have a college degree.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $131,080 a year. That is $63 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Massachusetts cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Massachusetts. It is number 113 of 123 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Lexington
$3,277
$3,020
$2,925
$2,448
$1,496

How much do households earn in Lexington?

Under $25k
6.0%
$25k–50k
5.1%
$50k–100k
11.9%
$100k–150k
17.5%
$150k+
56.5%

Share of households by yearly income. 74.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Lexington

SizeLexingtonU.S. average
1 bedroom$2,441$1,324
2 bedrooms$3,573$1,509
3 bedrooms$3,269$1,698
4 bedrooms$3,500+$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Lexington overall?

Everyday prices in Massachusetts overall are 6% above the U.S. average (index 105.8, U.S. = 100).

Housing
128
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
152
Other services
103
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Lexington, so the Massachusetts figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Lexington

🏛️ Property tax$10,000+a year · 0.83% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$194a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Lexington

Commute to work30.7 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree84.3%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home80.5%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line4.7%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment2.9%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lexington?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $5,071 a month less.

Renting
$3,277
Owning
$8,348

Owning assumes a typical $1,203,100 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $120,310 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Lexington, MA?

Renting in Lexington costs a median of about $3,277 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Massachusetts median is $2,331.

How much do I need to make to live in Lexington?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $131,080 a year, or $63 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Lexington cheap or expensive?

Lexington is rated Cheap: rent takes 15.3% of the typical household income of $257,162. It ranks 113th cheapest of 123 Massachusetts cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Lexington?

The median homeowner in Lexington pays $10,000+ a year in property taxes, about 0.83% of the median home value.

Is Lexington more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Massachusetts are 6% above the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Lexington?

The median home value in Lexington is $1,203,100, about 4.7 times the typical yearly household income.

34,295 people live in Lexington. Numbers are typical (middle) values.