Compare towns
Lee vs Acton vs Lenox vs Tyringham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Tyringham has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Acton | Lenox | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
24,155Highest |
5,079 |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
44.5±0.8Lowest 11% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
| Lenox and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Tyringham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$699,400±$96k 24% above MA |
| Acton and Tyringham 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 |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Acton and Tyringham 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Acton-Boxborough | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
13.5Highest |
7.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.