Compare towns
Salem vs Salisbury 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 renters (50.3% rent).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
9,281Lowest |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.9%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Woburn and Salem 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% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$111,185±$9kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$673,500±$17kHighest 20% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$2,221±$77Highest 26% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,354 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Woburn 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 5% below MA |
25 minLowest 13% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
16%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Triton | 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 |
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.