Compare towns
Lee vs Ayer vs Lenox Dale
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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Ayer | Lenox Dale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,645Highest |
29Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
48.9±17.5 22% above MA |
| Lee and Lenox Dale 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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
0%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
0%±68.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ayer 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 |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
— |
| Ayer and Lee 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 |
$463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
— |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
— |
| Ayer and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Lee and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
100%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
— |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
— |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
— |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
— |
| Ayer 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Ayer Shirley School District | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 12 photos → | 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.