Compare towns
Lee vs Lenox vs Merrimac
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).
Lenox has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Lenox | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
6,748Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
49.4±6.8Lowest 24% 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% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Merrimac 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% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Lenox 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 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac 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±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$553,400±$38kHighest about the MA average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,352±$325 23% below MA |
| Lee and Merrimac 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 |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Lee 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Lenox | Pentucket |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
7.6Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.