Compare towns
Salisbury vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (80.9%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Lee | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
1,314Lowest |
5,719 |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% 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. |
48.1±5.5Lowest 24% 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% |
16.3%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Plainfield 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% |
21.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
48.2%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% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$69,250±$31kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Salisbury and Lee 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. |
$318,400±$34k 4% below 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. |
$1,153±$103 18% 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. |
$4,806Highest 54% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
73.2%±53.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1957 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Plainfield 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 | — | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school 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.