Compare towns
Lee vs Danvers vs Needham 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).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Danvers | Needham | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
28,098 |
32,459Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
— |
| Needham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.