Compare towns
Lee vs Dedham vs Hudson
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 expensive homes ($662k median).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
25,237Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson 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%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest 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 |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.4Highest |
10.2 |
| 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.