Compare towns

Lenox vs Townsend 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).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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.

MeasureLenoxTownsendStockbridge
People
Population
5,079
9,100Highest
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
40.9±3.3Lowest
about the MA average
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%
21%±3.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
8.4%±4.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
40.1%±7.8
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
35.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
62.4%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.5%±2.8
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.5%±2.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Townsend 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
$121,528±$23k
17% above MA
$146,250±$67kHighest
41% above MA
Stockbridge and Townsend 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
$433,200±$22kLowest
23% below MA
$600,000±$99kHighest
7% above MA
Stockbridge and Lenox 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
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
$858±$375Lowest
51% below MA
Townsend and Lenox 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
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,652Lowest
22% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
47.2%±18.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
60.8%±27Highest
MA: 51.8%
Stockbridge and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.5%
MA: 10%
8.9%Highest
MA: 10%
7.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
71.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%
MA: 62.5%
83.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
22% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
20 minLowest
33% below MA
Work from home
18.3%±8.8
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
52.4%±19.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #90 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA —
School district Lenox North Middlesex —
High school in town Lenox Memorial High North Middlesex Regional —
Students per teacherat that high school
7.6Lowest
13.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.