What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Bolton	Salem
People
Population	5,737Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.2±1.7Highest 3% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Bolton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,583±$1kLowest 10% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 26% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#28 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Nashoba	Salem
High school in town	Nashoba Regional	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.