Compare towns
Lee vs Plainfield vs Lenox vs Dalton
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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Plainfield | Lenox | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
2,522Lowest |
5,079 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Dalton 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Plainfield 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 4% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31k 31% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Plainfield 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±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Lenox and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lee 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. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lenox and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #90 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Plainfield School District | Lenox | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Lenox Memorial High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | 7.6Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | 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.