Compare towns
Salem vs Rye vs Woburn
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 affordable homes ($543k median).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Rye | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
5,611Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Woburn 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,354Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Rye School District | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
| 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.