Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury vs Northampton
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 most affordable homes ($353k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Northampton has the most kids (16% 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 | Salisbury | Northampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
5,656Lowest |
30,962Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
41.3±2.2Lowest 3% 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% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northampton and Lee 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% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Lowest 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% |
50.6% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$80,288±$6kLowest 23% below MA |
| 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±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$429,700±$17k 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,439±$75 18% below MA |
| Salisbury and Northampton 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 |
$4,561 24% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Northampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.5% MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 26% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Northampton 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 | #159 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | — | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | — | Northampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 14.7Highest |
| 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.