Compare towns
Lee vs Northbridge vs Sutton 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).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Northbridge | Sutton | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
16,458Highest |
9,452 |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% 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% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge 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 |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| 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 34% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Northbridge | Sutton | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Northbridge High | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.