Compare towns
Dalton vs Chester 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 renters (29.3% rent).
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
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 | Chester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
1,240Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
45.9±3.7Lowest 15% 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 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Chester 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 |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Chester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Chester 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 |
$4,522Highest 25% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 | Gateway | 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 | 20 photos → |
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.