Compare towns
Bow vs Dalton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Dalton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bow School District | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.