Compare towns
Dalton vs Epping vs Lee vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k 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 | Dalton | Epping | Lee | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
7,430 |
5,719Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.4±2Lowest 9% 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 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest 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+ | 44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pittsfield and Epping 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 about the U.S. average |
$104,220±$7kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$70,582±$5kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$256,900±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,134±$61 20% below U.S. |
| Epping and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,148 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±5.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Epping School District | Lee | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Epping High School | Lee Middle/High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.3 |
9.2Lowest |
9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.