Compare towns
Dalton vs Milton vs Lee
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).
Milton has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Milton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Highest |
4,538Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% 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% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Milton 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% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest 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% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 |
$94,493±$27kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Milton 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Lee and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Milton and Lee 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. |
$5,663Highest 82% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton 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% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Milton School District | Lee |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Nute High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9Highest |
10.6 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.