What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lenox	Northampton
People
Population	5,079Lowest	30,962Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Northampton 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%	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA
	Lenox and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA
	Lenox and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$5,680Highest 5% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	13.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minHighest 22% below MA	21 minLowest 26% below MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton 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	#159 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Northampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	14.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.