Compare towns
Salisbury vs Reading vs Deerfield vs Lee
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%).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Deerfield has the highest household income ($106k).
Lee has the oldest population (median age 55.2).
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 | Reading | Deerfield | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
699Lowest |
5,158 |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Lowest 31% above U.S. |
51.8±3.6 33% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Lee and Deerfield 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Deerfield 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% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Reading 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.9%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Deerfield 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. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$106,136±$14kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Deerfield 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$414,900±$37k 25% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Deerfield 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,334±$318 6% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 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. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 48% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,824Highest 87% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
18 min 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #156 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Deerfield · Frontier | Lee |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Frontier Regional | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 20 photos → |
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.