Compare towns
Salisbury vs Middlesex vs Lee vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
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 | Middlesex | Lee | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281 |
1,943Lowest |
5,719 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Amesbury 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 44% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kHighest 56% above U.S. |
| Amesbury and Salisbury 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. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Amesbury 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$7,360Highest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Salisbury 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lee | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.