Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury vs Temple
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Temple has the most homeowners (82.2%).
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 | Temple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
9,281Highest |
1,363Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Lowest 27% 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%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Temple and Salisbury 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% |
25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 4% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Temple and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,169±$523Lowest 17% 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. |
$4,604 48% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Temple 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 | — |
| School district | Lee | Triton | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.