Compare towns
Washington vs Middlesex vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k 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 | Middlesex | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
1,943 |
5,079Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 45% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31k 31% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$32kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381Lowest 40% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lenox and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lenox |
| High school in town | — | None 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 |
U.S. 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.