Compare towns
Lee vs Hingham vs Dalton vs West Brookfield
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).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Hingham | Dalton | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
24,283Highest |
6,256 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield 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% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Hingham 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 |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
36 min 24% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and West Brookfield 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Hingham | Central Berkshire | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Hingham High | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
10.9 |
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| 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.