Compare towns
Dalton vs Heath 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).
Heath has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Lee has the most expensive homes ($353k 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 | Heath | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
765Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
| Lee and Heath 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% |
13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Heath 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% MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Heath 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 24% below MA |
$98,750±$23kHighest 5% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Heath and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
— | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$4,438Highest 26% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Heath 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 |
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.