Compare towns
Lee vs Sturbridge 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).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
9,960Highest |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
47.2±2.6Lowest 18% 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% |
20.7%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$1,193±$398Lowest 32% 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
3.7%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 |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
7.7Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.