Compare towns
Lee vs Ayer 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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Ayer | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,645Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Deerfield 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% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$101,875±$15k about the MA average |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Ayer and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Ayer Shirley School District | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.