Compare towns
Lee vs Great Barrington 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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Great Barrington | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,202Highest |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.7±4.2Lowest 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% |
14.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Great Barrington and Lenox 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% |
28.7%±4.7Lowest 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% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Great Barrington and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,314±$239 25% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% 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 |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
$5,299 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest 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% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
23 minHighest 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Berkshire Hills | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Monument Mt Regional High | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
9.2Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.