Compare towns
Salem vs Central Falls vs Woburn
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Woburn has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Central Falls | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
22,701Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
39.3±1.6Highest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$111,185±$9kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$5,354 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Woburn 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% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Central Falls Sr High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
11.2 |
| 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.