Compare towns
Framingham vs Salem vs Natick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Natick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | Salem | Natick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
44,795 |
36,873Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Natick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1Lowest 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±$6k 3% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$8,914Highest 49% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.7%±6.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Natick and 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 | #229 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #48 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Salem | Natick |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Salem High | Natick High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.