Compare towns
Lenox vs Dedham vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Lenox | Dedham | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
25,237Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31kLowest about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Nahant and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,615 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Nahant 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Dedham | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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| 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.