Compare towns
Attleboro vs Salem vs Pawtucket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Attleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
Pawtucket has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Attleboro | Salem | Pawtucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 46,762 |
30,964Lowest |
75,893Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.8±1.4 about the U.S. average |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
37.1±0.8Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pawtucket and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pawtucket and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,954±$6k 23% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$68,310±$4kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $448,100±$13k 35% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$325,500±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,590±$83 13% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,208±$39Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,366 72% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$4,115Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±4.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Attleboro and Pawtucket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.5%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Attleboro 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 | #185 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #35 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Attleboro | Salem School District | Blackstone Academy · Pawtucket |
| High school in town | Attleboro High | Salem High School | William E. Tolman High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 15.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.