Compare towns
Salisbury vs Lee vs Berlin
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%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Lee | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
5,719Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8Lowest 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 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Berlin and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin 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% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Lee | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | — | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.