Compare towns
Deerfield vs Hardwick 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158 |
2,684Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick and Deerfield 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% |
22.7%±5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Hardwick 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 about the MA average |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| 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 26% below MA |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
11%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Quabbin | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.