Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Dalton 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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Plainfield | Dalton | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
616Lowest |
6,256Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% 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% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| 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 |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #192 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | — | Central Berkshire | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Wahconah Regional High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.9 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.