Compare towns
Lee vs Lenox vs Townsend
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Lenox has the most people working from home (18.3%).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,079Lowest |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
40.9±3.3Lowest 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Townsend 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±$31k about the MA average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend 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 |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Lenox and Townsend 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 |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA |
| Townsend and Lee 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 |
$6,031Highest 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% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Lenox | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Lenox Memorial High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
7.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.