Compare towns
Lee vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sterling | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,183Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling 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% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Sterling 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±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Sterling 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 22% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Sterling and Lee 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Wachusett | 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.