Compare towns
Dedham vs Lee vs Dedham vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Dedham | Lee | Dedham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,719Lowest |
25,237 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | Dedham | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
10.4 |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.