Compare towns
Lee vs Sterling 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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sterling | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
8,183Highest |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Lenox 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% |
22.9%±4Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
| Sterling 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±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Sterling and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Sterling and Lee 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 |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Wachusett | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
— | 7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.