Compare towns
Salem vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Framingham has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Ware | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
10,048Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest 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±$5k 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$627,300±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
10.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Framingham 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Ware | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
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.