Compare towns
Waltham vs Salem vs Addison
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Addison has the most kids (18.6% under 18).
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 | Waltham | Salem | Addison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
2,611Highest |
1,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
47.5±4.2Lowest 22% above U.S. |
53.1±7.6 37% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Addison and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.1%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$106,667±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51k about the U.S. average |
$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$362,200±$23kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Addison and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113 22% below U.S. |
$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,019±$461Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714 83% above U.S. |
$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$5,831Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±62.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Waltham 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 | — | #376 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | — | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | — | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.5 |
— |
| 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.