Compare towns
Barre vs Lee vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Barre | Lee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,572Lowest |
5,719 |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±8.5Lowest 9% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Barre and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±5.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.6%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±3.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Barre and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Barre and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 24% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Quabbin | Lee | Triton |
| High school in town | Quabbin Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.