Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Plainfield 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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Plainfield | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
5,719 |
1,314Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%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. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% 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%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
48.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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 about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Deerfield 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±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,153±$103 18% 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. |
$4,806 54% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below 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% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | — | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | — | 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.