Compare towns
Salisbury vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
32,459Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
43.1±1.6Lowest 8% 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham and Salisbury 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 24% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #240 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | — | Lee |
| High school in town | — | — | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| 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.