Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Lenox vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Exeter | Lenox | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
16,151Highest |
5,079Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 4% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31k 31% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter 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 6% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #90 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lenox | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Exeter High School | Lenox Memorial High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
12.1Highest |
7.6Lowest |
10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.