Compare towns
Washington vs Windham vs Lenox vs Peru
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Lenox has the most expensive homes ($467k median).
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 | Windham | Lenox | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 526Lowest |
594 |
5,079Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7 45% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% 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% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lenox and Peru 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 18% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$90,750±$18kLowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 11% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | — | $1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lenox and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 |
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.