Compare towns
Salem vs Newfields vs Beverly 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 the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Newfields | Beverly | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
2,023Lowest |
42,665 |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
39±1.8 about the U.S. average |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Framingham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beverly 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Framingham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956 24 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 |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Beverly 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Newfields School District | Beverly | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Beverly High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.