Compare towns
Florida vs Marion vs New Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Marion has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
New Salem has the shortest commute (23 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 | Florida | Marion | New Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 668Lowest |
5,310Highest |
1,054 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.1±4.4Highest 40% above MA |
53.8±4Lowest 35% above MA |
55.6±2.4 39% above MA |
| Florida and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Marion and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±4.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.3%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Florida and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±4.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Marion and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
$143,092±$30kHighest 38% above MA |
$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
$653,500±$47kHighest 16% above MA |
$359,000±$40k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,176±$516 33% below MA |
$1,194±$88Highest 32% below MA |
| New Salem and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
$5,766Highest 4% below MA |
$4,509 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
75.8%±26.8 MA: 51.8% |
86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| New Salem and Marion are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9% MA: 10% |
9.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
90.8% MA: 62.5% |
89%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1962Lowest 2 yrs older than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
23 minLowest 20% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±8.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Marion and New Salem 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 | — | #141 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Florida | Marion | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.