Compare towns
Deerfield vs Lee vs Salisbury vs Sterling
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Sterling has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Lee | Salisbury | Sterling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
5,719 |
9,281Highest |
8,183 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA |
51.5±1.8 29% 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Sterling and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$14k about the MA average |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
| Sterling and Deerfield 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
| Sterling and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
| Sterling and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee | Triton | Wachusett |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.