Compare towns
Washington vs Dover vs Lee vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most expensive homes ($371k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Peru has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
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 | Dover | Lee | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,466 |
5,719Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Peru 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18k 12% above U.S. |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$332,900±$55k about the U.S. average |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.1%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.2%±11.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dover 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.