Compare towns
Malden vs Salem vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | Malden | Salem | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 65,906 |
44,795Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
37.5±1 6% below MA |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 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+ | 45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Malden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
| Framingham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Malden and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995Lowest 17% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 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 | 11.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
10.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
54.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 18% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Malden 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 | #184 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Salem | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Malden High | Salem High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.