Compare towns
Lee vs Lenox vs Northbridge
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%).
Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Lenox | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±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 |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge 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±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Lenox and Northbridge 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Lee and Northbridge 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 |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Northbridge 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%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Lenox | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
7.6Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.