Compare towns
Salem vs Cornwall 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%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Cornwall | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
1,208Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Cornwall 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 5% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kLowest 38% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | — | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.