Compare towns
Lenox vs Gardner vs Provincetown
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 60.1).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Provincetown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+24.5%).
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 | Gardner | Provincetown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
21,148Highest |
3,703Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
+24.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
56.3±2.6 41% above MA |
| Lenox and Provincetown 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% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner 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% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
9.6%±6.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Provincetown and Gardner 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 |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$136,904±$44kHighest 32% above MA |
| Provincetown 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 17% below MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$902,200±$180kHighest 61% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,261±$415Highest 28% below MA |
| Provincetown and Gardner 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 |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$4,927 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Provincetown and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
76.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
13 minLowest 55% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
31.5%±9.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Provincetown 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #254 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Gardner | Provincetown |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Gardner High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| 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.