Compare towns
Dalton vs Lee vs Webster vs Washington
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 most people working from home (16.4%).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Webster | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
5,719 |
17,748Highest |
526Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Washington and Lee 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% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Webster 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%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Lee 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Webster 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 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| Washington 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 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA |
| Washington and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Webster 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,381Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Webster 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Washington 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Lee | Webster | — |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | Bartlett High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
— |
| 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.