Compare towns
Lee vs Ayer vs Stockbridge
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).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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 | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,645Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Lee 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% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest 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%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest 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±$15k about the MA average |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Ayer 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±$29k 17% below MA |
$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% 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 |
$4,652 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge and Lee 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 |
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| 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.