What is the cost of living in Lexington, MA?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Lexington has an overall cost of living index of 209, which is 2.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to Massachusetts, Lexington has a cost of living index that's 1.6x higher than Massachusetts's index of 130.
The standard of living in Lexington ranks as #108 most affordable out of the 113 places we measured in Massachusetts. By definition, that implies Lexington ranks as the #5 most expensive place in the Bay State.
For more reading on life in Lexington, check out:
Lexington Cost Of Living Vs. Massachusetts
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Lexington. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Lexington is 108.
The Groceries index in Lexington is 113.
The Health index in Lexington is 438.
The Housing index in Lexington is 112.
The Transportation index in Lexington is 110.
The Utilities index in Lexington is 114.
| Living Expense | Lexington | Massachusetts | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 209 | 130 | 100 |
| Services | 108 | 110 | 100 |
| Groceries | 113 | 115 | 100 |
| Health | 438 | 168 | 100 |
| Housing | 112 | 117 | 100 |
| Transportation | 110 | 115 | 100 |
| Utilities | 114 | 114 | 100 |
Lexington Cost Of Living Compared To Massachusetts Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around Massachusetts, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In Massachusetts
- Most Affordable Cities In Massachusetts
- Average Rent In Massachusetts
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Lexington, MA Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in Massachusetts, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Lexington is $1,584,587.
The Median Rent in Lexington is $2,891.
The Median Income in Lexington is $238,444.
The Home Value To Income in Lexington is 6.6x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Lexington is 0.15x.
| Statistic | Lexington | Massachusetts | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $1,584,587 | $656,690 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $2,891 | $1,762 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $238,444 | $103,960 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 6.6x | 6.3x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.15x | 0.2x | 0.21x |
Lexington, MA Costs By Category
Detailed Lexington Services costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.49 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $15.49 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $29.33 | $18 |
| Haircut | $43.72 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $65.56 | $45.56 |
Detailed Lexington Groceries costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.48 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.45 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.76 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $4.99 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $12.52 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $10.21 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.53 | $3.7 |
Detailed Lexington Health costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $123.17 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $157.89 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $149.22 | $113.29 |
Detailed Lexington Transportation costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.43 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $97.39 | $59.92 |
Detailed Lexington Utilities costs vs. Massachusetts
| Item | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $302.72 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $187.85 | $192.25 |
Lexington SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Lexington
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Lexington. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Newton, MA has a cost of living index of 205, 1.0x Lexington.
Waltham, MA has a cost of living index of 163, 0.8x Lexington.
Brookline, MA has a cost of living index of 221, 1.1x Lexington.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Lexington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton, MA | 89,044 | 205 | 1.0x |
| Waltham, MA | 64,902 | 163 | 0.8x |
| Brookline, MA | 63,266 | 221 | 1.1x |
| Medford, MA | 59,354 | 162 | 0.8x |
| Arlington, MA | 46,350 | 173 | 0.8x |
| Woburn, MA | 41,939 | 153 | 0.7x |
| Needham, MA | 32,459 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Wellesley, MA | 30,347 | 239 | 1.1x |
| Belmont, MA | 27,175 | 203 | 1.0x |
| Burlington, MA | 26,274 | 165 | 0.8x |
