Compare towns
Hatfield vs Lee vs Salisbury vs Whately
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the youngest population (median age 46.8).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Whately has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Hatfield | Lee | Salisbury | Whately |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,325 |
5,719Highest |
5,656 |
1,499Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
49.3±6.7 23% 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 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Whately and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
24.5%±6.3 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+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$116,563±$15kHighest 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$431,500±$22k 23% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216 28% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$977±$125Lowest 45% 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 | $4,930 18% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
$5,027Highest 16% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.7%±29Lowest 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 | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
88.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 30% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
20.4%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Whately 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hatfield | Lee | — | Whately |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Lee Middle/High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
9.2Highest |
— | — |
| 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.