Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Saco
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest 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%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Saco 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±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Lee and Saco 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. |
$4,807Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| 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.