Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Sterling
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).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
8,183Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% above MA |
| Lee and Sterling 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Sterling 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Sterling 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 |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Lee 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Sterling 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | Wachusett |
| 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 Our Story | 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.