Compare towns
Lenox vs Sterling vs Stockbridge
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 most renters (28.6% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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 | Sterling | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
8,183Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
51.5±1.8Lowest 29% above MA |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Stockbridge 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% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stockbridge and Lenox 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% |
48.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Sterling 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 about the MA average |
$129,063±$27k 24% above MA |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$498,800±$48k 11% below MA |
$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238 38% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,299 12% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,652Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge 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 MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #90 of 282 in MA | #135 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lenox | Wachusett | — |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6 |
— | — |
| 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.