What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Framingham
People
Population	44,795Lowest	72,399Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA
	Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.5%±0.8Lowest 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	$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,884Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Framingham 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%	10.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±2.2Lowest 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	#229 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Salem High	Framingham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.