Compare towns
Dalton vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,605Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Hampton Beach 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 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$82,557±$17k about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Lee and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$508,900±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 37% above U.S. |
$6,115Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs 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 4% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | — | 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 |
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.