Compare towns
Windham vs Lenox vs Townshend vs Brookline
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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Windham | Lenox | Townshend | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
5,079Highest |
1,538 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Lenox and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lenox and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$106,080±$31kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Lenox and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,091±$238 23% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 91% above U.S. |
$5,299 70% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$5,000Lowest 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.2%±18.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Brookline 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — |
| High school in town | — | Lenox Memorial High | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.6Lowest |
8.1Highest |
— |
| 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.