Compare towns
Lee vs Putney 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 oldest population (median age 55.2).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Putney | Salisbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
2,622Lowest |
5,656 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
51±6.9 31% 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%±5 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$92,469±$7kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Lee 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$872±$70 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. |
$5,313Highest 70% above U.S. |
$4,561 46% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #240 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | — | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.