Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Framingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Framingham has the youngest population (median age 37.5).
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 | Windham | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
16,038Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.5±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Windham 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 5% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$107,419±$6k 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$627,300±$10k 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,033±$57 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,884 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Windham School District | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Windham High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.