Compare towns
Salem vs Townsend vs Norwood
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).
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 | Townsend | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
9,100Lowest |
31,542 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Townsend and Salem 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% |
21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Townsend and Norwood 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Norwood 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% |
35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Townsend 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$107,030±$11k about the MA average |
| Townsend and Norwood 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 |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$6,031Lowest about the MA average |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Norwood 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | North Middlesex | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | North Middlesex Regional | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.