Compare towns
Lancaster 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
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
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 | Lancaster | Lee | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Highest |
5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9Lowest 8% 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 | 19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 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 | $134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 9% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Lee | Lenox |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Highest |
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.