What stands out worked out from the figures below

Foxborough has the most homeowners (73.7%).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Foxborough	Salem
People
Population	18,615Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±1.9Highest 6% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Foxborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±3.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±2.4 MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	58.3%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$115,833±$9kHighest 11% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$606,300±$28kHighest 8% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,843±$70Highest 5% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Foxborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,275Highest 21% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±13.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Foxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.8%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Foxborough 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	#138 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Foxborough	Salem
High school in town	Foxborough High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.