Compare towns
Lenox vs Sheffield vs Hull 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).
Sheffield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Sheffield | Hull | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
3,330Lowest |
10,138Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
48.2±8Lowest 21% above MA |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±5.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±4.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$92,120±$31k 11% below MA |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Hull 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±$43k 17% below MA |
$409,400±$32k 27% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,837±$1k 4% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Hull and Sheffield 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 |
$4,520 25% below MA |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
29.2%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Hull 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% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
82.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
21 min 29% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Hull 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 | #250 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Southern Berkshire | Hull | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Mt Everett Regional | Hull High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
7.8 |
8.8 |
9.2Highest |
| 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.