Compare towns
Deerfield vs Sutton vs Whately 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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Whately has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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.
| Measure | Deerfield | Sutton | Whately | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
790Lowest |
1,499 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Lowest 20% above U.S. |
49.3±6.7 27% 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% |
17.3%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton and Whately 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Whately 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% |
32.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.4 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. |
$71,250±$18kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$116,563±$15kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Whately 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 25% above U.S. |
$231,100±$41kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$431,500±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Whately and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
— | $977±$125Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
| 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 87% above U.S. |
$3,975Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,027 61% above U.S. |
$3,980 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.7%±29 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.4%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Whately 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 | — | — | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Whately | 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.