Compare towns
Lee vs Gardner vs Lenox Dale
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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% 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 | Gardner | Lenox Dale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
21,148Highest |
29Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
48.9±17.5 22% above MA |
| Lee and Lenox Dale 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Lee 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8% MA: 47.3% |
0%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
0%±68.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kHighest 37% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
— |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Lee and Gardner 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% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
100%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
— |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
— |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
— |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
— |
| Lee and Gardner 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.