Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Ware vs Dalton
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 highest household income ($106k).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Lee | Ware | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
5,719 |
10,048Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% 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 |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee | Ware | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.