Compare towns
Lee vs Rye vs Dalton vs Lenox
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).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
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 | Rye | Dalton | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,611 |
6,256Highest |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Lowest 28% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% 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% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest 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% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,080±$31k 31% above U.S. |
| Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$466,700±$43k 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 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% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Lenox 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Rye School District | Central Berkshire | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Wahconah Regional High | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | 10.9Highest |
7.6Lowest |
| 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.