Compare towns
Washington vs Dedham vs Middlefield vs Lee
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%).
Middlefield has the most affordable homes ($333k 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 | Dedham | Middlefield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
25,237Highest |
352Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-26.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
44.6±1.6Lowest 12% above MA |
56.9±3.7Highest 42% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Middlefield and Washington 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% |
4.5%±9.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 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%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±8.5 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Lee 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,750±$23k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Dedham and Middlefield 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 |
$332,800±$48kLowest 41% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,625±$1kHighest 49% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Middlefield and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,926 18% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Middlefield and Lee 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% |
12.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±9.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | — | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 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.