Compare towns
Washington vs Maynard vs Lenox vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Maynard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Washington | Maynard | Lenox | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
10,712Highest |
5,079 |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
52.6±4.8 32% above MA |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Maynard and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
28%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 8% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Maynard and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Maynard and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,299 12% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lenox and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | — | Lenox | — |
| High school in town | — | — | Lenox Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.