Compare towns
Lenox vs Maynard vs Stow 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 oldest population (median age 60.1).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Maynard | Stow | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
10,712Highest |
7,165 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4Lowest 10% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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±$31k about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Maynard and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 12% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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 MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | — | Nashoba | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | — | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | — | 9.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.