Compare towns
Marlborough vs Maynard 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 the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Maynard has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Maynard | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647 |
10,712Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Maynard 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% |
18.2%±3.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Maynard 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% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Salem and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
$1,800±$148Lowest 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 |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% MA: 10% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56% MA: 62.5% |
75%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
— | 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.