What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).

Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lenox	Fairlee
People
Population	5,079Highest	1,066Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S.	56.2±8.7Lowest 44% above U.S.
	Lenox and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lenox and Fairlee 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%	33.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lenox and Fairlee 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 U.S.: 35.7%	46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Fairlee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S.	$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S.
	Lenox and Fairlee 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.	$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Highest 23% below U.S.	$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S.
	Lenox and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 70% above U.S.	$5,617Highest 80% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fairlee and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lenox and Fairlee 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	—
School district	Lenox	Rivendell Interstate School District
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.