Compare towns
Lee vs Derry 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 the shortest commute (18 min average).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Derry | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
34,116Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry 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 4% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Derry and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Pinkerton Academy | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.