Compare towns
Salem vs Wareham vs Framingham vs Beverly
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).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
Framingham has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Wareham | Framingham | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
23,302Lowest |
72,399Highest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8% MA: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
37.5±1Lowest 6% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Framingham and Beverly 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% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.7% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.5%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
$107,419±$6kHighest 3% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Framingham and Beverly 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
$627,300±$10k 12% above MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% below MA |
$2,033±$57Highest 15% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$6,884Highest 15% above MA |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.4%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly 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% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.4% MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.8% MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #229 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Wareham | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Wareham Senior High | Framingham High School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.6Lowest |
12.7Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.