Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Deerfield vs Washington
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 renters (28.9% rent).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Dover | Deerfield | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,930Highest |
5,158 |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee 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% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington 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% MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
— |
| Dover and Lee 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$4,381 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Deerfield · Frontier | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | Frontier Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.