Compare towns
Salem vs Canton 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).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Canton | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
24,748Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Canton 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Canton 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% MA: 47.3% |
67.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA |
$673,500±$17k 20% above MA |
| Canton and Woburn 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 |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$2,221±$77 26% above MA |
| Canton 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 |
$6,560Highest 9% above MA |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Canton 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 | #81 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Canton High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.