Skip to main content

MA area data

New Salem, MA

Aggregated across 3 ZIP codes in New Salem.

Population: 22,538 (Census ACS)

The typical home value in New Salem, MA is $360,939 — up 2.2% over the past year. Homes sell for a median $360,000 after a median 25 days on market. Typical rent runs $1,650/month. 6 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Moderate, with ice storm, cold wave, hurricane the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 5.8% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$360,939

Typical home value

+2.2%

1-year change

25

Median days on market

Relatively Moderate

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Typical home value
$360,939
1-year appreciation
+2.2%
3-year appreciation
+14.6%
5-year appreciation
+33.0%
10-year appreciation
+115.8%
Peak value since 2000 (May 2026)
$362,208
House Price Index (state)
493.1 (+3.6% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

Median sale price
$360,000
Median list price
$420,733
Median price per sqft
$227
1-year sale-price change
-0.7%
Median days on market
25 days
Homes sold (recent period)
89
For-sale inventory
77
Sale-to-list ratio
102.0%
Active listings
68
1-year forecast
+1.8%
New listings (monthly)
31

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$1,650/mo
Studio fair-market rent
$1,301/mo
1BR fair-market rent
$1,389/mo
2BR fair-market rent
$1,808/mo
3BR fair-market rent
$2,260/mo
4BR fair-market rent
$2,573/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
105.8 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
30.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$25.10/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
7.40%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.73%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
6
Elementary schools
3
Middle schools
1
High schools
2
Avg student-teacher ratio
10.9 : 1
School districts serving the area
Athol-Royalston, New Salem-Wendell, Orange
Schools include
Athol High, Athol Community Elementary School, Athol-Royalston Middle School, Swift River, Fisher Hill School

Source: NCES school directory, 2024-25 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Moderate
Top hazards (county)
ice storm, cold wave, hurricane, inland flooding, lightning, strong wind
Notable hazard ratings (county)
ice storm: Very High · cold wave: Relatively High · hurricane: Relatively High · lightning: Relatively High · strong wind: Relatively High · inland flooding: Relatively High
Most common flood zone among NFIP claims (varies by location)
Zone A
NFIP flood claims on record
5
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 19% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
66.2%
Radon potential (county)
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
Troy Mills Landfill (14.6 mi)
Flood zones vary by property. Look up a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA NFIP flood-insurance claims (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Average annual temperature
48.3°F
Average high
59.0°F
Average low
37.3°F
Annual precipitation
45.7 in
Annual snowfall
49.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
5b (extreme annual low -15 to -10°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Air quality

Air quality rating
Good
Median AQI (annual)
38
Days with Good air quality
286
Days with Moderate air quality
76
Highest AQI recorded (year)
109

Source: EPA annual air quality index (county-level)

Walkability & transit

Walkability index
6.4 / 20
Transit service frequency
-66,383
Jobs reachable by car (30 min)
3,735
Jobs reachable by transit (45 min)
7,206

Source: EPA Smart Location Database (metropolitan block groups)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
10
Nearest national park
New England National Scenic Trail (15 mi)
National parks include
New England National Scenic Trail, Springfield Armory National Historic Site, Lowell National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
21
Nearest airport
Orange Municipal Airport (2 mi)
Nearest major airport
Dillant Hopkins Airport (EEN) (20 mi)
Hospitals in or near a typical ZIP here
17
Hospitals include
ATHOL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DAY KIMBALL HOSPITAL, JOHNSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
2.5 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
3.3 / 5
Solar radiation rating
Fair (3.8 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data (same ZIP, else within ~40 mi) · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
-1,365 tax filers

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration (county-level; published with a multi-year lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1964
Housing built before 1970
54.5%
Housing built 2000 or later
12.0%
Median annual property tax
$4,050
Mean commute to work
24 min
Households with broadband internet
74.4%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
301,530
Average weekly wage
$1,410
Top industries (by employment)
Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Administrative Services
Annual residential building permits (county)
1,690

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

New SalemState medianUS median
Typical home value$360,939$618,851$288,527
Median sale price$360,000$585,000$325,000
Median days on market25 days27 days51 days
Typical rent$1,650/mo$2,767/mo$1,809/mo
Median annual property tax$4,050$5,436$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the typical home value in New Salem, MA?
$360,939.
What is the median sale price in New Salem, MA?
$360,000.
How long do homes take to sell in New Salem, MA?
Median days on market: 25 days.
What is typical rent in New Salem, MA?
Typical rent: $1,650/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in New Salem, MA?
Overall risk: Relatively Moderate (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: ice storm, cold wave, hurricane, inland flooding, lightning, strong wind.
Is New Salem, MA in a flood zone?
Flood zones vary by property across the city. 5 FEMA flood-insurance (NFIP) claims are on record; the most common zone among them is A. Check a specific address on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.
What is the wildfire risk in New Salem, MA?
Risk to homes is higher than 19% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in New Salem, MA?
High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near New Salem, MA?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve New Salem, MA?
6 schools (3 elementary, 1 middle, 2 high) (NCES, 2024-25).
Is New Salem, MA walkable?
Walkability index: 6.4/20 (EPA Smart Location Database).
What is the air quality in New Salem, MA?
Good. Median AQI: 38. (EPA AQI).
What is the cost of living in New Salem, MA?
Regional Price Parity: 105.8 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

ZIP codes in New Salem

Listing a home in New Salem, MA?

REAIGENT7 gives every listing its own AI assistant grounded in this same public data — it answers buyer and renter questions about the home and the area, around the clock, and sends every lead to the listing agent. Agents: it installs on your listing page, your website, or WordPress.

Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Oct 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents