What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the most affordable homes ($467k median).

Winchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lenox	Winchester
People
Population	5,079Lowest	23,406Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	42.5±1.9Lowest 6% above MA
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	27.6%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	18%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%	79.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.9%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Winchester 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	$230,198±$21kHighest 121% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA	$1,215,200±$39kHighest 116% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$2,279±$481Highest 29% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8%	39.3%±13.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lenox and Winchester 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	33.8%±3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#90 of 282 in MA	#11 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Winchester
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Winchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.