Compare towns
Lee vs Windham 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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
16,038Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
10.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$84,132±$11k 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$494,300±$61k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,314±$239Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,935 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Great Barrington and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Windham School District | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Windham High School | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | 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.