Compare towns
Cheshire vs Lee vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cheshire has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Windsor has the highest household income ($116k).
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 | Cheshire | Lee | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
5,719Highest |
1,065Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.7±4.5 34% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
44.8±6.4Lowest 12% above MA |
| Lee and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±4.2 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Windsor and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$115,563±$10kHighest 11% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$389,700±$32kHighest 31% below MA |
| Windsor and Lee 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 |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 50% below MA |
$3,980Highest 34% below MA |
$3,867 35% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.2%±24 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Windsor 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 | #274 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hoosac Valley Regional | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Hoosac Valley High School | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.