Compare towns
Salem vs Swampscott 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 the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Swampscott has the most homeowners (75.9%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% 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 | Swampscott | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
15,277Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
44.5±3.5Highest 11% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Swampscott 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% |
20.4%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Swampscott 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$134,386±$23kHighest 29% above MA |
$107,419±$6k 3% above MA |
| Swampscott and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$771,100±$41kHighest 37% above MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,303±$143Highest 31% above MA |
$2,033±$57 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,936Highest 32% above MA |
$6,884 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
57%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Swampscott 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% |
7.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
27.2%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Swampscott 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 | #76 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Swampscott | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Swampscott High | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.7 |
12.7Highest |
| 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.