Compare towns
Lee vs Dalton vs Berlin vs Lenox
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).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
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 | Dalton | Berlin | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,256Highest |
3,378Lowest |
5,079 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 24% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
| Lenox and Lee 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% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Berlin 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% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Lenox 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 |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,091±$238 38% 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 |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Lenox 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Central Berkshire | Berlin-Boylston | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High | None in town | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
10.9Highest |
— | 7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.