Compare towns
Salem vs Chilmark vs Norwood
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).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Norwood has the most kids (20% 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 | Chilmark | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
1,578Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Norwood and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$168,750±$28kHighest 62% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$651,700±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$2,116±$83 20% above MA |
| Chilmark and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Norwood 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% |
4.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Chilmark 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 | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Up-Island Regional | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.