Compare towns
Salem vs Newfields 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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
2,023Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest 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. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 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%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Newfields 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% 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. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest 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% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer 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 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Salem 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 | Newfields School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.