Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury vs Stoneham
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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% 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 | Stoneham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
9,281 |
23,355Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
42.2±2.2Lowest 6% 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% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±2.2Lowest 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% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$113,964±$10kHighest 10% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$671,900±$26kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
| Stoneham and Salisbury 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 |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$6,523Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stoneham 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 | #117 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Triton | Stoneham |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Stoneham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
| 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.