Compare towns
Washington vs Needham vs Lee vs Peru
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 oldest population (median age 56.5).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Needham | Lee | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,719 |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$90,750±$18k 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Needham 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% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Needham | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.