What stands out worked out from the figures below

Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Framingham	Salem
People
Population	72,399Highest	44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1Lowest 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	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.1Lowest 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+	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±0.8Lowest 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	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,884Highest 15% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	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%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.6%±2.2Lowest 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	#229 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical	Salem
High school in town	Framingham High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.