Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Upton vs Merrimac
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).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% 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 | Lee | Upton | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
5,719 |
8,189Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
49.4±6.8 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Merrimac 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Merrimac 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% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
| Upton and Merrimac 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Upton and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Lee and Merrimac 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,399 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.