Compare towns
Dedham vs Lee vs Salem vs Needham
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Salem | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 25,237 |
5,719Lowest |
44,795Highest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918 32% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 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% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #119 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Lee | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Lee Middle/High School | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
— |
| 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.