Compare towns
Deerfield vs Salisbury vs Dedham vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Deerfield | Salisbury | Dedham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
9,281 |
25,237Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Dedham and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Dedham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Salisbury 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Triton | Dedham | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | Dedham High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4 |
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.