Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sutton vs Lee vs Hatfield
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%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton | Lee | Hatfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
9,452Highest |
5,719 |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
44.3±2.5Lowest 11% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
46.8±5 17% 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% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Sutton 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$89,005±$25k 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$440,800±$26k 22% below MA |
| Sutton and Salisbury 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 |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,267±$216 28% 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,930 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8Lowest 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
20 min 30% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Sutton | Lee | Hatfield |
| High school in town | — | Sutton High School | Lee Middle/High School | Smith Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
9.2 |
6.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.