Compare towns
Salisbury vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% 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 | Dover | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
33,364Highest |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% 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 | 13.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest 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+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 16% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Dover and Salisbury 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. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Dover 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. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Dover School District | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.