Compare towns
Lee vs Orange vs Warren vs Lenox
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).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
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 | Orange | Warren | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
7,573Highest |
5,009Lowest |
5,079 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
41.8±2.2 4% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% 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% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Orange and Warren 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% |
20.3%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest 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% |
15.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 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±$13k 19% below MA |
$55,824±$10kLowest 46% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$245,900±$18kLowest 56% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$775±$233Lowest 56% below MA |
$890±$174 49% below MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
| Lee and Lenox 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 |
$4,136 31% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41%±11.9 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Lenox 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% |
22.4%Highest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Quaboag Regional | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ralph C Mahar Regional | Quaboag Regional High | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
9.0 |
10.0Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.