Compare towns
New Salem vs Springfield vs Warwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Salem has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Warwick has the highest household income ($93k).
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 | New Salem | Springfield | Warwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,054 |
154,749Highest |
776Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
0% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
51.4±7.3 29% above MA |
| New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
| New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,688±$19k 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA |
| Warwick and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$349,400±$34k 38% below MA |
| New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,194±$88 32% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA |
| Warwick and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,509Highest 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 20% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
40 minHighest 37% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.4%±8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Warwick and New 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Springfield | Warwick |
| High school in town | — | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.