What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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	Northampton	Lenox
People
Population	30,962Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±2.2Lowest 3% above MA	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA
Kids under 18	16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4%	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northampton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	52.7%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average
	Lenox and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,700±$17kLowest 24% below MA	$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA
	Lenox and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,680Highest 5% below MA	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8%	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northampton and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.4%Highest MA: 10%	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 26% below MA	23 minHighest 22% below MA
Work from home	24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Northampton 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	#159 of 282 in MA	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural	Lenox
High school in town	Northampton High	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	7.6Lowest
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.