Compare towns
Washington vs Monroe vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Monroe has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
Lenox has the most people working from home (18.3%).
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 | Monroe | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526 |
122Lowest |
5,079Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Lowest 41% above MA |
60.2±9.9Highest 51% above MA |
60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
| Monroe and Lenox 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% |
16.4%±28Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Monroe 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 MA: 17.9% |
31.1%±27.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest 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% |
19.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9%±18.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Monroe 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 8% below MA |
— | $106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average |
| Lenox and Washington 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 |
$165,000±$141kLowest 71% below MA |
$466,700±$43kHighest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,091±$238 38% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$2,053Lowest 66% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
38.5%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
56 minHighest 93% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
0%±41.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lenox and Washington 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 | — | — | 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 |
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.