Compare towns

Washington vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Lenox has the most renters (28.6% rent).

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.

MeasureWashingtonPelhamLenox
People
Population
526Lowest
14,449Highest
5,079
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-8.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
56.5±7.7
45% above U.S.
41.5±2.7Lowest
7% 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%
22%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
35.4%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8Lowest
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%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
52.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Pelham 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.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$106,080±$31k
31% above U.S.
Pelham 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.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$466,700±$43k
40% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,425±$88Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,091±$238Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,381Lowest
40% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$5,299
70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.2%±18.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Lenox 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%
3.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
4% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
12.9%±10.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.3%±8.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham 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 — #48 of 120 in NH #90 of 282 in MA
School district — Pelham School District Lenox
High school in town — Pelham High School Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Highest
7.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.