Compare towns
Lee vs Salisbury vs Worcester
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,719 |
9,281Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
47±2.7Lowest 21% 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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| 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±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,604Highest 48% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% 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% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — |
| School district | Lee | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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 History | 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.