Compare towns
Salem vs Ripton vs Norwood
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Norwood has the most kids (20% 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 | Ripton | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
508Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Ripton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$107,030±$11k 33% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$651,700±$13kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
— | $2,116±$83Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$6,111 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.3%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Norwood 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% |
8.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Ripton 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 | — | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.