Compare towns
Salisbury vs Millis vs Lee 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%).
Millis has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Millis | Lee | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
8,888 |
5,719Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
46.4±3Lowest 16% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
18.4%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
23.5%±3.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
54.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee and Salisbury 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 10% below MA |
$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,696±$279Highest 4% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Millis and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$9,344Highest 56% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.5%±16.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury and Millis 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Millis | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | None in town | Millis High School | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → | 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.