Compare towns
Lee vs Berlin vs Stow
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the most kids (22.3% 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 | Berlin | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
3,378Lowest |
7,165Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% above MA |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin 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% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Berlin 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 |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Stow 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 |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.