Compare towns
Lee vs Webster vs Whitman
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 people working from home (16.4%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Whitman has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Webster | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
17,748Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman and Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Whitman 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,228±$81Lowest 30% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Whitman 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Webster | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Bartlett High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.