The Town FilesNew Salem, Massachusetts
Town in Franklin County · population 983 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $359,000
- Household income
- $79,688
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 45 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 55.6
New Salem is a town of 983 people in Franklin County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $359,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks quieter than 96% of Massachusetts towns, better for retirees than 94% of Massachusetts towns, better for families than 75% of Massachusetts towns.
How New Salem ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in New Salem is worth $359,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.5 times the median household income of $79,688, which is more affordable than 54% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,194 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | New Salem | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $359,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,194 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $79,688 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.5× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.8% | — |
Who lives in New Salem
| People | New Salem | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.7% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 14.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.4% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 9.7% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.4% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 23.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.9% | 93.9% |
Weather in New Salem
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F. About 42.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.0 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 10 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 161 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Salem since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 9, 1953 about 8.1 miles from the town center and killed 90. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 90 deaths and 1,228 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on October 23, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.25 inches on May 22, 2013.
Severe weather in Franklin County since 1996
Franklin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Franklin County
Franklin County had 25,435 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,261 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in New Salem itself the ACS puts it at 1.9%.
Public schools in New Salem
1 public school with 137 students, about 9.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swift River | PK-6 | 137 | 9.1 |
Towns near New Salem
- Shutesbury, MA4.6 mi · 1,717 people · home $376,100
- Petersham, MA5.7 mi · 1,194 people · home $392,400
- Pelham, MA7.4 mi · 1,280 people · home $447,600
- Wendell, MA7.9 mi · 924 people · home $290,300
- Leverett, MA8.1 mi · 1,865 people · home $435,500
- Hardwick, MA9.2 mi · 2,667 people · home $346,700
- Athol, MA9.5 mi · 11,945 people · home $268,100
- Orange, MA10.3 mi · 7,569 people · home $245,900
New Salem questions
Is New Salem, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, New Salem scores better for retirees than 94% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 96%. 23.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.6).
How much does a house cost in New Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in New Salem is valued at $359,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,688, so homes cost about 4.5 times income. Median rent is $1,194 a month.
What is the weather like in New Salem?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 14.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45.0 inches of snow.
Does New Salem get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of New Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 9, 1953. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)