Compare towns
Gardner vs Lee vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k 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 | Gardner | Lee | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,148Highest |
5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,150 31% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Gardner | Lee | Lenox |
| High school in town | Gardner High | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
9.2 |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.