Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Stoneham vs Deerfield
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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).
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 | Stoneham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,719 |
23,355Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Stoneham 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 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Stoneham 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 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71% MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | Stoneham | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | Stoneham High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.