Compare towns
Lee vs Ware vs Lenox vs Dalton
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).
Ware has the youngest population (median age 39.8).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k 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 | Ware | Lenox | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,369Highest |
5,079Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| 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 |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$295,700±$26k 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% 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 | $3,980 34% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Lee 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% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | — | Lenox | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | 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 |
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.