Compare towns
Salem vs Mansfield vs Stoughton
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 renters (50.3% rent).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Stoughton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Mansfield | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
23,931Lowest |
29,225 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton 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% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Stoughton 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 |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
| Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Mansfield 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mansfield | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Salem High | Mansfield High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.