Compare towns
Lenox vs Needham 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).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Needham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Lee 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 12% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | — | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | — | 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 |
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.