Compare towns
Lee vs Wareham vs Mashpee 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%).
Mashpee has the most expensive homes ($562k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Wareham | Mashpee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
23,302Highest |
15,384 |
9,281 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
52.1±3.1 30% above MA |
55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
51.3±3.5Lowest 28% above MA |
| Mashpee 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%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mashpee and Wareham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9 MA: 17.9% |
33.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Mashpee 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Wareham 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±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$95,299±$13kHighest 8% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
| Mashpee 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 |
$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,504±$180 15% below MA |
$1,776±$330Highest about the MA average |
$1,691±$411 4% below MA |
| Mashpee and Salisbury 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 |
$3,762Lowest 37% 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% |
44.7%±14.5Lowest 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%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
5.5% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
81.9% MA: 62.5% |
71.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
14.5%±3 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 | #100 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Wareham | Mashpee | Triton |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wareham Senior High | Mashpee Middle-High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
8.6Lowest |
9.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.