Compare towns
Lee vs Lancaster vs Great Barrington
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).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Great Barrington has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
8,606Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington 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% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
49.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$84,132±$11k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$494,300±$61k 12% below MA |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$5,935 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Great Barrington 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Nashoba | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | 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.