Compare towns
Lee vs Hardwick 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).
Hardwick has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Hardwick | Lenox Dale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Highest |
2,684 |
29Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±9.8Lowest 13% 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% |
20.5%±5.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hardwick 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% |
22.7%±5 MA: 17.9% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
0%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
0%±68.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick 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±$13kHighest 19% below MA |
$75,000±$22kLowest 28% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
— |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
— |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
— |
| Hardwick 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% |
11% MA: 10% |
100%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
— |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
— |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
— |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
— |
| Lee and Hardwick 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lee | Quabbin | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| 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.