Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury vs Upton vs West Brookfield
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
West Brookfield has the oldest population (median age 58.5).
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 | Upton | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
9,281Highest |
8,189 |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
58.5±3.2Highest 46% above MA |
| West Brookfield and Lee 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
35.9%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Brookfield and Lee 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% MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
1.2%±1Lowest 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$95,613±$12k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,236±$271 30% below MA |
| 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 34% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$4,260 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
30.3%±18.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
80.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.