Compare towns
Lee vs Alford vs Lenox
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).
Alford has the most expensive homes ($794k median).
Lenox has the most kids (13.3% 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 | Lee | Alford | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
433Lowest |
5,079 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Lowest 38% above MA |
63.1±2.4Highest 58% above MA |
60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
| Alford and Lenox 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% |
5.1%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
43%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Alford and Lenox 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% |
63.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±3.1Lowest 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 | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,042±$11kHighest 16% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
| Alford and Lenox 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 |
$794,400±$144kHighest 41% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,750±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Alford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980 34% below MA |
$3,913Lowest 35% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 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 | 7.2% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 minHighest 12% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.2%±6.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Alford 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 |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
— | 7.6Lowest |
| 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.