Compare towns
Salisbury vs Hingham vs Dalton 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%).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Hingham | Dalton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
24,283Highest |
6,256 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
48.4±2.4Lowest 21% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% 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% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Dalton 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% |
26%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 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% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$178,390±$15kHighest 72% above MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
| Hingham and Salisbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
4.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #14 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Hingham | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Hingham High | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.