Compare towns
Lenox vs Nahant vs Upton vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Nahant | Upton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
3,325Lowest |
8,189Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox 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% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Nahant and Lee 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 |
$6,615 10% above MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Upton and Nahant 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 | #129 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Nahant | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
9.2 |
| 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.