Compare towns
Acushnet vs Salem vs Acushnet Center
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acushnet has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Acushnet Center has the most affordable homes ($379k 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 | Acushnet | Salem | Acushnet Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,624 |
44,795Highest |
2,810Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.8 15% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
47.5±6.5Highest 19% above MA |
| Acushnet Center and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acushnet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29%±7.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Acushnet Center and Acushnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.4% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
15.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,503±$9kHighest 14% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$71,864±$19kLowest 31% below MA |
| Acushnet and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,400±$34k 22% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$378,900±$37kLowest 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,170±$354 34% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,083±$314Lowest 39% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,647 22% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,231Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.4%±12 MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Acushnet Center are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
10.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
25 minLowest 16% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.2%±8 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Acushnet Center 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 | #118 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Acushnet | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| 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.