Compare towns
Dalton vs Easthampton 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).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
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 | Easthampton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
16,086Highest |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
46±2.6Lowest 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%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Easthampton 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% |
23.9%±3Lowest 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% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
| Lee and Dalton 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 |
$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Easthampton 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 |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Easthampton 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 |
$4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
22 minHighest 23% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Easthampton | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Easthampton High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.8 |
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.