Compare towns
Lee vs Danvers vs Washington vs Deerfield
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).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
28,098Highest |
526Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% 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%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Washington 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% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Danvers and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
— | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
25 min 13% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Deerfield 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | — | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 11.1 |
| 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.