Compare towns
Dalton vs Hardwick 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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Hardwick has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Hardwick | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
2,684Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest 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% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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 |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% 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 |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Quabbin | 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 | 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.