Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Middlesex vs Deerfield
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 affordable homes ($296k median).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Deerfield has the most expensive homes ($415k 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 | Lee | Middlesex | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,719 |
1,943Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Middlesex 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 |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Deerfield 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. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield 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. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Deerfield 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.