Compare towns
Salisbury vs Exeter vs Dalton 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 the most expensive homes ($479k median).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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 | Exeter | Dalton | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
16,151Highest |
6,256 |
5,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 20% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Salisbury 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #192 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Central Berkshire | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Wahconah Regional High | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.