Compare towns
Lee vs Wareham vs Buzzards Bay vs Salisbury
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).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Buzzards Bay has the highest household income ($94k).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Wareham | Buzzards Bay | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
23,302Highest |
2,909Lowest |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.9% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
54.4±5.9 36% above MA |
51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Buzzards Bay 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
| Salisbury and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
| Salisbury and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980 34% below MA |
$4,341 28% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,604Highest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Buzzards Bay 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | — | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Wareham | — | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wareham Senior High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.