Compare towns
Lee vs Acton vs Dalton vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).
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 | Lee | Acton | Dalton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
24,155Highest |
6,256 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% 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 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 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+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest 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 | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Acton-Boxborough | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
10.9 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.