Compare towns
Lee vs Chilmark vs Salisbury vs Deerfield
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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Chilmark has the most expensive homes ($1895k median).
Salisbury has the youngest population (median age 51.3).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Chilmark | Salisbury | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
1,578Lowest |
9,281Highest |
5,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
53.6±8.1 34% above MA |
51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| Lee and Chilmark 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% |
16.7%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Chilmark and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Chilmark and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Deerfield and Lee 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 |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA |
| Chilmark and Salisbury 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 |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 | — | #240 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Up-Island Regional | Triton | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.