Compare towns
Lee vs Worcester vs Deerfield
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 most renters (28.9% rent).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
831Lowest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Deerfield and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield and Worcester 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. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$414,900±$37kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 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.