Compare towns
Dalton vs Exeter 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
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
16,151Highest |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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 | 20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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+ | 44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Exeter High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.