Compare towns
Hadley 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
Hadley has the highest household income ($119k).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hadley | Lee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,306Lowest |
5,719Highest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±7.1Lowest 15% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±6.9 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 | 16.2%±4.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hadley and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 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+ | 61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Hadley and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,271Highest 12% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest 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 | 6.4% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 33% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Salisbury 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hadley | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Hopkins Academy | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.3Lowest |
9.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.