Compare towns
Framingham vs Natick vs Newfields vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Framingham | Natick | Newfields | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
36,873 |
2,023Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
43.3±1.4 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Newfields and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Natick and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$138,538±$11k 72% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$821,000±$25kHighest 147% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
$2,134±$124Highest 51% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Natick and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 121% above U.S. |
$8,914 186% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.1%±1.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Natick 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Natick | Newfields School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Natick High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.6 |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 7 photos → | 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.