Compare towns
Lee vs Lenox vs Salem
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 highest household income ($106k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| 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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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 19% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Lenox and Salem 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 |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Lenox | Salem |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
7.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
| 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.