Compare towns
Framingham vs Ogunquit vs Stoneham 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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Ogunquit | Stoneham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
1,379Lowest |
23,355 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2 8% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
— | $2,035±$142Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Stoneham and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±8.2 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1964 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #229 of 282 in MA | — | #117 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | — | Stoneham | Salem |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | — | Stoneham High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.