Compare towns
Lee vs Dedham vs Danvers
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).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Danvers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Danvers 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Dedham | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.