Compare towns
Lee vs Maynard vs Dalton 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).
Maynard has the highest household income ($124k).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Maynard | Dalton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
10,712Highest |
6,256 |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
45.3±4.3Lowest 13% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Maynard and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
| Maynard 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | — | Central Berkshire | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Wahconah Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
— |
| 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.