Compare towns
Lee vs Saco 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).
Saco has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Great Barrington has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Saco | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
20,819Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% 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% |
16.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Saco 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% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61kHighest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% 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. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$5,935Highest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 10% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Great Barrington and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Saco Public Schools | 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 → | 6 photos → | 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.