Compare towns
Marlborough vs Hamilton vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hamilton has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Marlborough | Hamilton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
7,600Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
43.5±2.1Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2 MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
$129,833±$14kHighest 25% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5 MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% MA: 10% |
7.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton 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 | #215 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Hamilton-Wenham | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
11.8Highest |
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.