Compare towns
Lee vs Dalton vs Dedham vs Washington
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Lee | Dalton | Dedham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,256 |
25,237Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% 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 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest 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+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 7.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Central Berkshire | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.