Compare towns
Lee vs Worcester vs Great Barrington
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).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Worcester | Great Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
207,055Highest |
7,202 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
49.7±4.2 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.7%±4.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$84,132±$11kHighest 19% below MA |
| Great Barrington 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±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$494,300±$61kHighest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
| Worcester 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 |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,935Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
9.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
24 minHighest 17% below MA |
22 min 25% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #139 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Berkshire Hills |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | South High Community | Monument Mt Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.