Compare towns
Lee vs Needham 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).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Needham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
32,459Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% above MA |
51±6.9 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%±5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,561 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.