Compare towns
Lee vs Oakham vs Deerfield
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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Oakham has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).
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 | Oakham | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
1,639Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49±2.3Lowest 23% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% 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% |
18.2%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Oakham and Deerfield 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% |
21.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$102,000±$20k about the MA average |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$420,100±$20kHighest 25% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Oakham and Deerfield 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 |
$1,174±$81Lowest 33% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% 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 |
$4,103 32% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Oakham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Deerfield and Lee 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Quabbin | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.