Compare towns
Lee vs Meredith vs Great Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Great Barrington has the most kids (14.9% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
6,758 |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Great Barrington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Great Barrington and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,314±$239 7% below U.S. |
| Lee and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.9%±15.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Great Barrington 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.