Compare towns
Dalton vs Ashfield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Ashfield has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Dalton | Ashfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,893Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3% MA: 47.3% |
52%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$80,833±$16k 22% below MA |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
| Lee and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$400,600±$30kHighest 29% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,100±$200 38% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$5,197Highest 13% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ashfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
9.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24%±6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashfield 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Mohawk Trail | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.