Compare towns
Lee vs Athol vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Athol has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Lee | Athol | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
12,011Highest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA |
51.3±3.5 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 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 44.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$69,316±$5kLowest 33% below MA |
$93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,150±$182Lowest 35% 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 | $3,980 34% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,604Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
16.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Athol-Royalston | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Athol High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.