Compare towns
Salem vs Springfield vs Worcester
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 highest household income ($110k).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Salem and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.