Compare towns
Salem vs Woonsocket 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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 | Woonsocket | Framingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
43,521Lowest |
72,399Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average |
35.7±1.3Lowest 8% below U.S. |
37.5±1 4% below U.S. |
| Salem and Framingham 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Framingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest 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±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$107,419±$6kHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$627,300±$10kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,033±$57Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Highest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #229 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Framingham · South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Salem High | Woonsocket High School | Framingham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
15.2Highest |
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.