Compare towns
Salem vs Sutton vs Marlborough
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).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
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 | Sutton | Marlborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
9,452Lowest |
41,647 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$91,968±$9k 12% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA |
| Salem and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
| Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough 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 MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
56% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±2.4Lowest 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #215 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Sutton | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough |
| High school in town | Salem High | Sutton High School | Assabet Valley Vocational High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.1 |
| 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.