Compare towns
Deerfield vs Alford vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the youngest population (median age 51.8).
Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Deerfield | Alford | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
433Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6Lowest 30% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 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 | $106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Alford and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Alford 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | — | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| 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.