Compare towns
Berlin vs Deerfield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Berlin | Deerfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
5,158 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Berlin and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
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.