Compare towns
Salem vs Norton vs Woburn
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).
Woburn has the most expensive homes ($674k 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 | Norton | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
19,240Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Norton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Woburn and Norton 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% |
17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Norton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA |
$111,185±$9k 7% above MA |
| Norton and Woburn 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 |
$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$1,911±$375 8% above MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Woburn and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$5,929 about the MA average |
$5,354Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Woburn 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 MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 12% above MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Norton 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 | #173 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Norton | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Norton High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.