Compare towns
Salem vs Gray vs Norwood
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Gray has the most homeowners (82.4%).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Gray | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
8,429Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwood and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and Norwood 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% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Gray 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. |
$95,236±$8k 18% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Norwood and Gray 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. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray 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% |
3.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #10 of 133 in ME | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.5Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.