Compare towns
Lee vs Worcester vs Salisbury vs Dalton
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).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Worcester | Salisbury | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719Lowest |
207,055Highest |
9,281 |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$79,438±$8k 24% below MA |
| 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 37% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$478,700±$27kHighest 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Worcester 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 |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,604 23% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest 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% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Triton | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | South High Community | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| 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.