Compare towns
Lee vs Salem vs Dalton
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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
44,795Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Salem 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem 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 19% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Salem 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 37% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Lee 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Salem | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Salem High | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.