Compare towns
Lee vs Ayer 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).
Ayer has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k 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 | Lee | Ayer | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
8,645 |
9,281Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
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% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest 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% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Ayer and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest 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 | 7.2% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Ayer Shirley School District | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.