Compare towns
Dalton vs Ware vs Lee vs Pittsfield
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 kids (20.6% under 18).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Lee has the most people working from home (16.4%).
Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Ware | Lee | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,256 |
10,048 |
5,719Lowest |
43,457Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
42.4±2Lowest 6% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Lee and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.4% MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 24% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
19 min 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Ware | Lee | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lee Middle/High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.