Compare towns
Heath vs Lee vs Lenox vs Colrain
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
Colrain has the most kids (15.3% 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 | Heath | Lee | Lenox | Colrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 765Lowest |
5,719Highest |
5,079 |
1,627 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±11.9 35% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% 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 | 13.1%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.6%±8.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
| Lenox and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,000±$45k 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,102±$77 37% below MA |
| Lee and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,438 26% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,317 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
86.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Lenox 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Lee | Lenox | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.