Downers Grove, IL vs Salem, MA
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Downers Grove
73.6
#697 nationally
Salem
68.6
#1307 nationally
Salem leads in walk score (70 vs 44). Downers Grove leads in median household income ($115,461 vs $79,196). Downers Grove leads in crime level (3.1 vs 4.2).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Downers Grove, IL | Salem, MA |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 73.6 (#697) | 68.6 (#1307) |
| Population | 49,706 | 44,744 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $513,663 | $614,321 |
| Median Household Income | $115,461 | $79,196 |
| Average Commute | 28.1 min | 30.6 min |
| Walk Score | 44 | 70 |
| Crime Level | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 125 | 135 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+13.3 | D+20.3 |
C
73.6 Score
Downers Grove, IL
Small Illinois city with local appeal
Median Home
$513,663
Population
49,706
Crime
Low
Walk Score
44
Midwest
View Downers Grove, IL →
D+
68.6 Score
Salem, MA
Small Massachusetts city with local appeal
Median Home
$614,321
Population
44,744
Crime
Moderate-Low
Walk Score
70
Northeast
View Salem, MA →