Compare towns
Framingham vs Salem vs Sutton
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 most expensive homes ($627k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399Highest |
44,795 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Salem | Sutton |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Salem High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.