Compare towns
Lee vs Brighton vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
1,167Lowest |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$872±$70 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,276Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Brighton School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.