Compare towns
Salisbury vs Sutton vs Lee vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,656 |
2,239Lowest |
5,719 |
6,256Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 31% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1Lowest 24% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Sutton and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$362,600±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,656±$614 17% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561 46% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.