Compare towns
Lenox vs Barre vs Lee
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 most expensive homes ($467k median).
Barre has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Barre | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
5,572 |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Barre and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Barre and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Lenox and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
| Lee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$5,163 14% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest 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 | 8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
8.2% MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #134 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Quabbin | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Quabbin Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
12.9Highest |
9.2 |
| 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.