Compare towns
Lee vs Gorham vs Deerfield 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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Gorham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.9%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Gorham | Deerfield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
18,300Highest |
5,158Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% 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% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Deerfield 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. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14k 31% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Gorham and Deerfield 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. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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 |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #156 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Gorham Public Schools | Deerfield · Frontier | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Gorham High School | Frontier Regional | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.9Highest |
11.1 |
10.9 |
| 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.