Compare towns
Washington vs Danvers vs Florida vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Danvers | Florida | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
28,098Highest |
668 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
45.3±3Lowest 13% above MA |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Danvers and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 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+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$6,654Highest 11% above MA |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 10% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Danvers and Lee 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 | — | #91 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Florida | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.