Compare towns
Salisbury vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Ware | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656Lowest |
10,048Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9 28% above MA |
43.1±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5 MA: 19.4% |
| Ware and Lee 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$7kHighest 11% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% 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 | $4,561Highest 24% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Salisbury 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ware | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.