Compare towns
Deerfield vs Gorham vs Lee vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Gorham | Lee | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
2,682Lowest |
5,719 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Lee and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$61,275±$7kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$872±$70 38% below U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | #57 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Gorham High School | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.0Lowest |
9.2 |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
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.