Compare towns
Lee vs Dedham vs Danvers vs Dalton
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).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest 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 |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest 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%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below 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±$19k 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below 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±$212 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below 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 |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% 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 |
1957 7 yrs 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 |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Dedham | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.4 |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.