Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton vs Marblehead 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%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Hampton | Marblehead | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
16,426Lowest |
20,413 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Framingham 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1 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. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #31 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Marblehead | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Winnacunnet High School | Marblehead High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
10.7 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.