Compare towns
Salem vs Woonsocket vs East Haddam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most expensive homes ($404k median).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
East Haddam has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Salem | Woonsocket | East Haddam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,282Lowest |
43,521Highest |
8,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40.9±5.4 5% above U.S. |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
50±2.9Highest 29% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| East Haddam and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,245±$8kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$107,861±$9k 34% above U.S. |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,600±$33kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$352,700±$24k 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,440±$150Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,242±$331 12% below U.S. |
| Salem and East Haddam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,668Highest 114% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$5,724 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.1%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26%±13Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woonsocket and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18%±9.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| East Haddam 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 | #11 of 149 in CT | #37 of 38 in RI | #68 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Salem School District | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | East Haddam School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Woonsocket High School | Nathan Hale-Ray High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 15.2Highest |
7.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.