Compare towns
Lee vs Middlesex 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Great Barrington has the most expensive homes ($494k median).
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 | Middlesex | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
1,943Lowest |
7,202Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.7±4.2 28% above U.S. |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Great Barrington 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,314±$239Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lee and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | 9.2 |
| 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.