Compare towns
Lee vs Hampden vs Lenox
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).
Hampden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.2%).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
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 | Hampden | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,896Highest |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31k 31% above U.S. |
| Hampden 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. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Lee and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980 28% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,299Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | RSU 22 | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Hampden Academy | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
14.8Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 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.