Compare towns
Lenox vs Dedham vs Rockport
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%).
Rockport has the most expensive homes ($746k 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 | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
25,237Highest |
7,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
59.7±3.3 49% above MA |
| Lenox and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Rockport 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% |
38.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Rockport 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% |
55.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.2Lowest 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±$31k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$96,250±$15kLowest 7% below MA |
| Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$746,100±$47kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,851±$219 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Rockport 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 |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
71.1%±17Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Rockport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
22%±5.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Rockport and Dedham 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 | #124 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Dedham | Rockport |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Dedham High | Rockport Middle High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
10.4Highest |
8.3 |
| 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.