Compare towns
Concord vs Salem vs Winchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most people working from home (36.1%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Winchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Concord | Salem | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,223Lowest |
30,964Highest |
23,406 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.6±2Highest 22% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
42.5±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Concord and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.6%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Concord and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $195,350±$22k 142% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,210,000±$72k 264% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,631±$166Highest 86% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
| Concord and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.2%±10.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Concord and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.8%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Concord and Winchester 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 | #10 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #11 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Concord · Concord-Carlisle | Salem School District | Winchester |
| High school in town | Concord Carlisle High | Salem High School | Winchester High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.