What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the highest household income ($201k).

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	Boxford	Salem
People
Population	8,208Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 23% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Boxford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$200,871±$21kHighest 93% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 61% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 56% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Boxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.1%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#34 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Salem
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.