Cost to Own
United StatesMassachusettsBerkshire CountyLee Population 1,522 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-07-30

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Lee, Massachusetts

A $266,000 home here costs

$2,275

per month, all in — with 20% down at today's 6.66% 30-year fixed rate.

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,368. The real number is $907 higher every month — 66% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Lee median: $265,900
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
US average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $212,800 borrowed $1,368
Property tax1.308% effective rate for Lee itself $290
Homeowners insuranceMassachusetts averages $1,712/yr (NAIC), or 0.31% of home value $69
Electricity28.82¢/kWh — Massachusetts residential average, EIA $259
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $222
Total monthly $2,275

Lee against Berkshire County and Massachusetts

MeasureLeeBerkshire County
Median home value$265,900$283,800
Median property tax$3,477$3,891
Effective tax rate1.308%1.371%
Median gross rent$1,042
Population1,522128,047

The weather behind that power bill

Lee sits in Berkshire County, which averages a high of 79.3°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.9°F in its coldest, with 44.23" of precipitation a year and 29% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 344 cooling and 7,224 heating degree days, which is what sets the $259 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Berkshire County — month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Berkshire County

Full Berkshire County cost breakdown · Every county in Massachusetts

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Lee?

A $266,000 home in Lee, Massachusetts costs approximately $2,275 per month with 20% down at 6.66%. That is $1,368 principal and interest, $290 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $327 utilities and $222 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Lee?

Lee has an effective property tax rate of 1.308%, based on a median home value of $265,900 and median real estate taxes of $3,477. That is lower than the Berkshire County average of 1.371%.

What is the average home price in Lee?

The median owner-occupied home value in Lee, Massachusetts is $265,900, against $283,800 across Berkshire County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lee?

Rent data is not published for Lee at this level of detail.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lee — US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance — NAIC average premium for Massachusetts.
  • Electricity price — EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate — Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology