Compare towns
Salem vs Newfields vs Framingham vs Marblehead
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 most homeowners (95.3%).
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
2,023Lowest |
72,399Highest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest 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%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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. |
$182,132±$28k 126% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% 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. |
$8,309 166% 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% |
49.5%±8.8 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% |
4.4% 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% |
85.2% 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. |
1944 36 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 15% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #229 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Newfields School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Framingham High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.