Compare towns
Salem vs Brewer vs Framingham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Framingham has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Brewer | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
9,652Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
40.1±4.8Highest 3% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$107,419±$6kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Brewer Public Schools | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Brewer High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.0Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.