Compare towns
Lee vs Gardner vs Stockbridge
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).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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 | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
21,148Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Lee 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% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest 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%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge 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% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest 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±$13k 19% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge 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 |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$4,652Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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.