Compare towns
Washington vs Dedham vs Lenox vs Middlefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.6%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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 | Washington | Dedham | Lenox | Middlefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
25,237Highest |
5,079 |
352Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
56.9±3.7 42% above MA |
| Lenox and Middlefield 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Washington 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 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 | $95,278±$12kLowest 8% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
| Dedham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
| Middlefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 27% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Dedham 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% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham and Lenox 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Dedham | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.