Compare towns
Washington vs Wareham vs Lee vs Leyden
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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Leyden has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Wareham | Lee | Leyden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
23,302Highest |
5,719 |
637 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
52.1±3.1Lowest 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
53.2±8.2 33% 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% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Leyden 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% |
26.2%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
28.6%±2.7 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
0.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$105,893±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Leyden and Washington 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 |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$372,900±$24k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,917±$451Highest 9% above MA |
| Leyden and Wareham 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 |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,651Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.9%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
10.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
93.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 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 |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11%±5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Washington 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 | — | #272 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Wareham | Lee | — |
| High school in town | — | Wareham Senior High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6Lowest |
9.2Highest |
— |
| 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.