Compare towns
Salem vs Everett vs Framingham 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).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Everett | Framingham | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
50,045 |
72,399Highest |
41,939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
37.5±1 6% below MA |
39.3±1.6Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 18% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA |
| Woburn 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±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Woburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Everett | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Everett High | Framingham High School | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
12.7Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.