Compare towns
Washington vs Tyringham 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
Tyringham has the highest household income ($163k).
Lenox has the most renters (28.6% rent).
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 | Tyringham | Lenox | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526 |
494Lowest |
5,079Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 41% above MA |
59.2±2.7 48% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
52.6±4.8Lowest 32% above MA |
| Lenox and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
8.7%±5.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peru 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% |
35.2%±8.8 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.7%±6.9Lowest 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% |
66.3%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% |
3.6%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±2 MA: 7.9% |
| Lenox and Tyringham 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 |
$163,333±$28kHighest 57% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$90,750±$18kLowest 13% below MA |
| Tyringham 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 |
$699,400±$96kHighest 24% above MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
$267,400±$15kLowest 52% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,050±$393Lowest 40% below MA |
$1,091±$238Highest 38% below MA |
— |
| Lenox and Tyringham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$4,632 23% below MA |
$5,299Highest 12% below MA |
$3,805Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8 MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Tyringham 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 MA: 10% |
3.6% MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.9% 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 |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Tyringham 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 | — | — | 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.