Compare towns
Lee vs Webster vs Washington 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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
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 | Webster | Washington | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
17,748Highest |
526Lowest |
5,079 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
39.9±2.9Lowest about the MA average |
56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
| Lenox and Washington 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% |
19.6%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Webster 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% |
19.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Washington 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% |
25.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.1% MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Webster and Lee 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 |
$72,895±$6kLowest 30% below MA |
$95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Washington 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
— | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Lee and Webster 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 |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,381 27% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
12.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
25 min 13% below MA |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Lee 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | — | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Webster | — | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Bartlett High School | — | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
11.6Highest |
— | 7.6Lowest |
| 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.