What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lee has the most affordable homes ($175k median).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lee	Salisbury
People
Population	925Lowest	1,609Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.5±11.5 32% above U.S.	51.5±4.5 32% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.1%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	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	$49,886±$5kLowest 38% below U.S.	$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$174,500±$25kLowest 48% below U.S.	$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,917±$632 36% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,547Lowest 50% below U.S.	$5,859Highest 88% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	96.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 32% above U.S.	32 minLowest 21% above U.S.
Work from home	11.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 30/MSAD 30	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.