Compare towns
Lee vs Dedham vs Stockbridge
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).
Dedham has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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 | Dedham | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
25,237Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Lee 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% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Dedham 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 |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$600,000±$99k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,652 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge and Lee 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% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | — | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.