What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashfield has the most homeowners (85.5%).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ashfield	Salem
People
Population	1,893Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	58.6±3.4Highest 47% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	33.7%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kLowest 22% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
	Salem and Ashfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$400,600±$30kLowest 29% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,100±$200Lowest 38% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,197Lowest 13% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	62.5%±34Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Ashfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.1%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	24%±6Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Ashfield and Salem 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	Mohawk Trail	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

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.