Compare towns
Lenox vs Exeter vs Lee
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 the oldest population (median age 60.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 31% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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 40% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 70% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Lenox 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Exeter High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.