Compare towns
Lenox vs Westhampton vs Lee vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lenox has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.4%).
Westhampton has the most kids (18% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Westhampton | Lee | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,079 |
1,552Lowest |
5,719Highest |
3,325 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
49.3±4.9Lowest 23% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% 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% |
18%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
11%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Westhampton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±6.2 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% |
47% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$100,000±$7k 4% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Nahant 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 |
$413,200±$24k 26% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,304±$229 26% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,777±$334Highest about the MA average |
| Nahant and Lee 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 |
$6,476 8% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 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% |
6.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
91.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Nahant 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Hampshire · Westhampton | Lee | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Hampshire Regional High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
10.0Highest |
9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.