Compare towns
Deerfield vs Salem vs Lee
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
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 | Salem | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,158Lowest |
44,795Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% 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% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Deerfield 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 |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,824 about the MA average |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 40% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
18 min 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Deerfield · Frontier | Salem | Lee |
| High school in town | Frontier Regional | Salem High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.