Compare towns
Salem vs Reading vs Marlborough
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 renters (50.3% rent).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
Marlborough 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 | Reading | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
699Lowest |
41,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
37.5±1.3Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marlborough and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$91,968±$9kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$513,100±$28k 54% above U.S. |
| Salem and Marlborough 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,871±$123Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,747Lowest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.9%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Marlborough 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% |
8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 13% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.1Highest |
| 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.