Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hatfield vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Hatfield has the most kids (14% 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 | Hatfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
3,325Lowest |
5,719Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
46.8±5Lowest 17% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% 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 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hatfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 24% below MA |
$4,930Highest 18% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 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 | 5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
20 min 30% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hatfield | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Smith Academy | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
9.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.