Compare towns

Deerfield vs Sutton 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 most expensive homes ($415k median).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Lee has the most renters (28.9% rent).

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.

MeasureDeerfieldSuttonLee
People
Population
5,158
2,239Lowest
5,719Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.8±3.6
33% above U.S.
48.1±4.1Lowest
24% above U.S.
55.2±5.8Highest
42% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Sutton and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.9%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
21.6%±5.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
33.4%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.9%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
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.
$130,313±$31kHighest
61% above U.S.
$83,750±$13kLowest
4% above U.S.
Sutton 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±$37kHighest
25% above U.S.
$362,600±$16k
9% above U.S.
$352,700±$19kLowest
6% above U.S.
Deerfield and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,334±$318Lowest
6% below U.S.
$1,656±$614Highest
17% above U.S.
$1,375±$212
about the U.S. average
Sutton and Lee 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.
$7,652Highest
145% above U.S.
$3,980Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.1%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.6%±47.2
U.S.: 51.1%
57.3%±21.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lee and Sutton 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%
4.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Highest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1971
9 yrs older than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 minLowest
33% below U.S.
29 minHighest
11% above U.S.
18 min
31% below U.S.
Work from home
17.5%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±7.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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
School district Deerfield · Frontier Kearsarge Regional School District Lee
High school in town Frontier Regional Kearsarge Regional High School Lee Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.4
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.