Compare towns
Lee vs West Brookfield 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 renters (28.9% rent).
West Brookfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Deerfield has the most expensive homes ($415k median).
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 | West Brookfield | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
3,859Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
51.8±3.6Lowest 30% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Lee 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% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Deerfield and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±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 |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
| Deerfield and West Brookfield 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 |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
$414,900±$37kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 30% 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 |
$4,260 29% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and West Brookfield 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% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| West Brookfield 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 | #162 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Quaboag Regional | 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.