Compare towns
Lee vs Dover vs Washington 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 56.5).
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 | Dover | Washington | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,930 |
526Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
44.9±2.3Lowest 12% above MA |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
— | $872±$70Lowest 51% 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 |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
92.5% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.