Compare towns
Deerfield vs Erving 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
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Erving has the most kids (16.3% under 18).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
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 | Deerfield | Erving | Lee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158 |
1,703Lowest |
5,719 |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
43.3±2.4Lowest 8% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Erving and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.4Lowest 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+ | 44.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average |
$77,656±$9kLowest 25% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Deerfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$271,800±$20kLowest 52% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318 24% below MA |
$1,163±$213Lowest 34% 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 | $5,824Highest about the MA average |
$1,870Lowest 69% below MA |
$3,980 34% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±23 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 | 7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
81.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
3.6%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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 | #156 of 282 in MA | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Erving | Lee | Triton |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.