Compare towns
Salem vs Bourne vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Bourne has the most homeowners (75.8%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% 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 | Bourne | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
20,323Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
46%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.8Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| 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.