Compare towns
Stoddard vs Salem vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Springfield has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Stoddard | Salem | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,072Lowest |
44,795Highest |
1,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53±4Highest 36% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
| Stoddard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stoddard and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,904±$11k 18% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $330,300±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $895±$751Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,316Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,946 91% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Springfield 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 | — |
| School district | Stoddard School District | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.