Compare towns
Salisbury vs Gorham vs Lee vs Hatfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Gorham has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k 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 | Salisbury | Gorham | Lee | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
18,300Highest |
5,719 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
46.8±5 20% 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 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
14%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.6 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+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 15% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$89,005±$25k 10% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$440,800±$26k 32% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 46% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,930Highest 58% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.6%±11.8 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 | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Gorham 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #209 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Gorham Public Schools | Lee | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Gorham High School | Lee Middle/High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
9.2 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.