Compare towns
Deerfield vs Marblehead vs Dalton 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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Marblehead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Marblehead | Dalton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
20,413Highest |
6,256 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
49.1±2Lowest 23% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Dalton 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%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest 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% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 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 |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #156 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Marblehead | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Marblehead High | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
10.7 |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.