Compare towns
Lee vs Colrain vs Great Barrington
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).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Great Barrington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1%).
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 | Colrain | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
1,627Lowest |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.6±8.7Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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% |
15.3%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Colrain and Great Barrington 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% |
30.4%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Colrain 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% |
37.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$80,673±$10kLowest 22% below MA |
$84,132±$11kHighest 19% below MA |
| Great Barrington 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±$19k 37% below MA |
$284,300±$14kLowest 49% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,102±$77Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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 |
$4,317 28% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
46%±22.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Great Barrington 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Mohawk Trail | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.