Compare towns
Lee vs Dedham vs Salem
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 highest household income ($129k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
25,237 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Dedham and Salem 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Dedham 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 | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Dedham | Salem |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dedham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.4Highest |
9.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.