What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).

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	Pelham
People
Population	5,079Lowest	14,449Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S.	41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.9%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pelham 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±$31kLowest 31% above U.S.	$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S.
	Pelham and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 40% above U.S.	$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S.	$1,425±$88Highest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 70% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pelham and Lenox 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.	1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	30 minHighest 12% above U.S.
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pelham 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	#48 of 120 in NH
School district	Lenox	Pelham School District
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Pelham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	10.4Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.