Compare towns
Deerfield vs Gardner vs Berlin 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
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 | Gardner | Berlin | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
21,148Highest |
3,378Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest 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% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Berlin and Lee 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 |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Gardner | Berlin-Boylston | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Gardner High | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
13.5Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.