Compare towns
Lee vs Ware vs Washington vs Tyringham
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 most kids (23.3% under 18).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k 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 | Washington | Tyringham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
6,369Highest |
526 |
494Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.8±6Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
| Tyringham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Washington 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% |
35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Tyringham 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% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Ware 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 |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$253,400±$31kLowest 55% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
— | $1,050±$393 40% below MA |
| Lee and Tyringham 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 |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$4,632Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
14.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
89.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5 MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lee | — | — | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — | — |
| 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.