Compare towns
Lenox vs Dummerston vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Dummerston has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Dummerston | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Highest |
2,090Lowest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 54% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lenox and Nahant 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 31% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,762±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Nahant 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±$43k 40% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,777±$334Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Nahant and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 70% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,615Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nahant and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Nahant 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 | — | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.