Compare towns
Everett vs Framingham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Framingham has the highest household income ($107k).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k 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 | Everett | Framingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
72,399Highest |
44,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
37.5±1 6% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Framingham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
| Everett and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Salem |
| High school in town | Everett High | Framingham High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.