Compare towns
Salem vs Epping 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 the most renters (50.3% rent).
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Epping | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
7,430Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% |
37%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% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Framingham and Epping 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. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Epping School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Epping High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
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.