Compare towns
Lee vs Easthampton vs Deerfield vs Dalton
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).
Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Easthampton | Deerfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
16,086Highest |
5,158Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
— | -0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
46±2.6Lowest 15% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Easthampton 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% |
23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
38%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Easthampton 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 |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Deerfield and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Lee and Deerfield 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 |
$4,932 18% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Easthampton 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% |
8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
22 minHighest 23% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Easthampton | Deerfield · Frontier | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Easthampton High | Frontier Regional | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
11.1Highest |
10.9 |
| 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.