Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury 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%).
West Brookfield has the most homeowners (80.8%).
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 | West Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
9,281Highest |
3,859Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
51.3±3.5Lowest 28% 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Salisbury and West Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% 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% |
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 |
$95,613±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
| West Brookfield 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 37% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$354,000±$21k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,236±$271Lowest 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 |
$4,604Highest 23% below 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% |
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%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
80.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 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 |
42 minHighest 44% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±15 MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and West Brookfield 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 | #162 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Triton | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
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| 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.