Compare towns
Tyringham vs Gardner vs Lee vs Otis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Tyringham has the most expensive homes ($699k median).
Gardner has the most kids (18.3% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Tyringham | Gardner | Lee | Otis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 494Lowest |
21,148Highest |
5,719 |
1,624 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 59.2±2.7Highest 48% above MA |
43.7±2.3Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
51±3.2 28% above MA |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Gardner and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±8.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Tyringham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
39.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$108,898±$6k 5% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$396,700±$40k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,375±$212Highest 22% below MA |
$1,318±$924 25% below MA |
| Lee and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,632Highest 23% below MA |
$4,150 31% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60%±100 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% MA: 10% |
13.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham and Otis 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 | — | #273 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Gardner | Lee | Farmington River Reg |
| High school in town | — | Gardner High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.