Compare towns
Lee vs Epping vs Dalton vs Deerfield
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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Epping | Dalton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,430Highest |
6,256 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Lowest 16% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,824 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Lee 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Epping School District | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Epping High School | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.3 |
10.9 |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.