Compare towns
Dover vs Lee vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Dover | Lee | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,930Highest |
5,719 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% 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 | 26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest 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+ | 84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
— |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.