Compare towns
Lee vs Middlesex vs Salisbury vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Middlesex | Salisbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
1,943Lowest |
9,281Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Triton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | — | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.