Compare towns
Dalton vs Hingham vs Washington vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Hingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Dalton | Hingham | Washington | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
24,283Highest |
526Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #192 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hingham | — | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hingham High | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.