Compare towns
Deerfield vs Springfield vs Lee vs Berlin
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).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Springfield | Lee | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
154,749Highest |
5,719 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Deerfield 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Lee 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Springfield | Lee | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Springfield Central High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.