Compare towns
Deerfield vs Rye 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).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Rye | Berlin | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
5,611 |
3,378Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Lee and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Berlin 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Rye 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% |
61.5%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% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rye and Berlin 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Rye 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. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% 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% |
85.5%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. |
1972 8 yrs older than 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. |
29 min 9% above 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% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Berlin 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Rye 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.