Compare towns
Stoddard vs Lee vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Stoddard | Lee | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
5,719Highest |
1,609 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4 36% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8Highest 42% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Lee and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Salisbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above 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 | $4,316 38% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Lee 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 | — | #209 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Lee | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lee Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.