Compare towns
Washington vs Salem vs Florida
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the highest household income ($95k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Florida has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
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 | Washington | Salem | Florida |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
44,795Highest |
668 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-7.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±4.4 40% above MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.5%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$86,875±$17k 16% below MA |
| Washington and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 34% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$246,800±$19kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$867±$256Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 27% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$1,894Lowest 68% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
16.7%±100 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Florida are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
91.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 13% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 10% below MA |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.4%±2.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Washington 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 | — | Salem | Florida |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.