Compare towns
Salisbury vs Alstead vs Lee
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 (+11.5%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Alstead | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,551Lowest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Alstead and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$271,600±$37kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
— | $1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 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 |
| School district | Triton | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.