Compare towns
Salisbury vs Upton vs Lee vs Deerfield
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%).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Upton | Lee | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,281Highest |
8,189 |
5,719 |
5,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5 28% above MA |
46.4±4.8Lowest 16% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
51.8±3.6 30% above MA |
| 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 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
| 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 MA: 47.3% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 10% below MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$414,900±$37k 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,334±$318 24% below MA |
| 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 23% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2 MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
18 min 38% below MA |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Lee | Deerfield · Frontier |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Lee Middle/High School | Frontier Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
9.2Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.