Compare towns
Deerfield vs Jackson vs Berlin vs Lee
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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Jackson | Berlin | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
897Lowest |
3,378 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+26%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
60.5±2.5Highest 56% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Jackson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Berlin 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% |
28.4%±6.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$117,986±$46k 46% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$719,300±$109kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Jackson 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 6% below U.S. |
$1,750±$1k 24% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 87% above U.S. |
$6,001 92% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
19 min 30% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Jackson 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Jackson School District | Berlin-Boylston | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | 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 | 20 photos → |
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.