Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lee, Massachusetts
A $266,000 home here costs
$2,272per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $97,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,450. The real number is $822 higher every month, 57% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Berkshire County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lee from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 1,522 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Berkshire County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lee against Berkshire County and Massachusetts
| Measure | Lee | Berkshire County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $265,900 | $283,800 |
| Median property tax | $3,477 | $3,891 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.308% | 1.371% |
| Median gross rent | — | $1,042 |
| Population | 1,522 | 128,047 |
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 $174 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
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lee averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lee every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lee?
A $266,000 home in Lee, Massachusetts costs approximately $2,272 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,450 principal and interest, $290 property tax, $69 homeowners insurance, $242 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.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lee?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lee, Massachusetts at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $97,500 a year. That covers the full $2,272 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
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.