The Town FilesLee, Massachusetts
Town in Berkshire County · population 5,788 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $352,700
- Household income
- $83,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 71 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 55.2
Lee is a town of 5,788 people in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $352,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 89% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 83% of Massachusetts towns, better for a vacation home than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
How Lee ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lee is worth $352,700, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $83,750, which is more affordable than 65% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,375 a month. 71.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lee | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $352,700 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,375 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $83,750 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 71.1% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 10.5% | — |
Who lives in Lee
| People | Lee | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.2 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 33.4% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.1% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.2% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 16.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 18.1 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 93.9% |
Weather in Lee
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F. About 49.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 71.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 166 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on August 28, 1973 about 7.8 miles from the town center and killed 4. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 4 deaths and 36 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 29, 2005.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 27 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 3, 1997.
Severe weather in Berkshire County since 1996
Berkshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Berkshire County
Berkshire County had 57,946 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,257 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Lee itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Public schools in Lee
2 public schools with 646 students, about 9.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee Elementary | PK-6 | 338 | 9.4 |
| Lee Middle/High School | 7-12 | 308 | 8.6 |
Towns near Lee
- Lenox, MA4.8 mi · 5,095 people · home $466,700
- Great Barrington, MA7.6 mi · 7,172 people · home $494,300
- Pittsfield, MA10.4 mi · 43,927 people · home $256,900
- Dalton, MA12.9 mi · 6,330 people · home $295,700
- Sheffield, MA15.2 mi · 3,327 people · home $409,400
- New Lebanon, NY15.8 mi · 2,514 people · home $279,700
- Lanesborough, MA16.1 mi · 3,038 people · home $299,400
- Cheshire, MA18.6 mi · 3,258 people · home $268,200
Lee questions
Is Lee, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lee scores better for retirees than 66% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 71%. 33.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.2).
How much does a house cost in Lee?
The median owner-occupied home in Lee is valued at $352,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $83,750, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $1,375 a month.
What is the weather like in Lee?
July highs average 81.9°F and January lows 12.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.1 inches of precipitation a year and 71.4 inches of snow.
Does Lee get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on August 28, 1973. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)