Compare towns
Lenox vs Lancaster vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 67).
Lancaster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Shelburne has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Lenox | Lancaster | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,866 |
8,606Highest |
1,567Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 67±5.4Highest 68% above MA |
43.1±4.9Lowest 8% above MA |
57±7.3 43% above MA |
| Lenox and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.5%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Lancaster and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 54.8%±7.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
38.4%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 63.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.8%±6.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $61,335±$33kLowest 41% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$83,000±$4k 20% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $410,700±$68k 27% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$405,400±$32kLowest 28% below MA |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $854±$598Lowest 52% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,080±$105 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,224Lowest 30% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,595 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.5%±28.2 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
39.1%±7.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
67.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 15.9%±12Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Mohawk Trail |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.