Compare towns
Lee vs Berlin vs Washington 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
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 | Washington | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
3,378 |
526 |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Tyringham and Washington 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% |
13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Washington 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% |
30.1%±5.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington 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% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 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 |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
| Tyringham and Berlin 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 |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
— | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% 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 |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | — | — |
| School district | Lee | Berlin-Boylston | — | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.