What stands out worked out from the figures below

Attleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.6%).

Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).

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	Attleboro	Salem
People
Population	46,762Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.8±1.4Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Attleboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,954±$6kLowest 23% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,100±$13kLowest 35% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
	Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,590±$83Lowest 13% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Attleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,366Lowest 72% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±5.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Attleboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	14.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Attleboro 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	#185 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Attleboro	Salem School District
High school in town	Attleboro High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	15.3Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.