Compare towns
Deerfield vs Beverly vs Lee vs Berlin
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Beverly has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Beverly | Lee | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
42,665Highest |
5,719 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% 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 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin 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% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Deerfield 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 |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Beverly and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Beverly | Lee | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Beverly High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| 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.