Compare towns
Salisbury vs Lee vs Bourne vs Dalton
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 (+11.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Bourne has the most expensive homes ($576k median).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Lee | Bourne | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
5,719Lowest |
20,323Highest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
52±1.8 30% above MA |
49.7±5.8Lowest 24% above MA |
| Lee and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Bourne 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Bourne 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±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Salisbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Salisbury and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Highest 23% below MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
6.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% below MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Lee | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2Lowest |
9.8 |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.