Compare towns
Lenox vs Stoneham vs Nahant vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Stoneham | Nahant | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
23,355Highest |
3,325Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
| Nahant 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% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant 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% |
55.9% MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Stoneham 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 |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
$112,762±$6k 8% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Stoneham and Nahant 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 |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Nahant and Stoneham 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 |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Stoneham and Nahant 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 |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham and Nahant 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 | #117 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Stoneham | Nahant | Lee |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Stoneham High | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— | 9.2 |
| 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.