Compare towns
Salem vs Sturbridge vs Sutton vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Sturbridge has the most affordable homes ($426k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Framingham has the most expensive homes ($627k 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 | Sturbridge | Sutton | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
9,960 |
9,452Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Sturbridge and Sutton 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% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Sturbridge 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% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15k 32% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Sutton and Sturbridge 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 |
$425,800±$18kLowest 24% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,520 9% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Framingham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Sutton | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Sutton High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
7.7Lowest |
12.6 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.