Compare towns
Lenox vs Meredith 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 highest household income ($106k).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
6,758Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lenox and Meredith 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% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lenox and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Lenox 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. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212Highest about the U.S. average |
| Lee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299Highest 70% above U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Inter-Lakes High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
11.1Highest |
9.2 |
| 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.