Compare towns
Lee vs Suffield 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Suffield has the highest household income ($119k).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Suffield | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
15,702Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.5±1.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
16.2%±2 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Suffield 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% |
18.4%±2.2Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Suffield 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. |
$119,472±$13kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$407,500±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,424±$141Highest about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Suffield 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. |
$6,456Highest 107% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Suffield 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Suffield 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 | #57 of 149 in CT | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Suffield School District | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Suffield High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.