Compare towns
Framingham vs Springfield vs Salem
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 highest household income ($107k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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.
| Measure | Framingham | Springfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 72,399 |
154,749Highest |
44,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1 6% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% 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%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Salem 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% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Salem |
| High school in town | Framingham High School | Springfield Central High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.2 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.