Compare towns
Salem vs Berlin vs Woburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Berlin has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Woburn has the most kids (17.9% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
3,378Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Woburn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Woburn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Berlin and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Berlin-Boylston | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.