Compare towns
Marlborough vs Worcester 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 homeowners (56%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Marlborough | Worcester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647Lowest |
207,055Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3 6% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9kHighest 12% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
| Salem and Marlborough 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 |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$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 | $5,747 4% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #215 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Salem |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | South High Community | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
14.6Highest |
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.