Compare towns
Amesbury vs Dalton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Amesbury | Dalton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Amesbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Amesbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Amesbury 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 | #151 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.