Compare towns
Salisbury vs Middlesex vs Lee vs Dalton
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,943Lowest |
5,719 |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% 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% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Dalton 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%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% 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% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest 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% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional 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.