What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Boxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	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 U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Boxford and Salem 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 149% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Boxford 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	#34 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Boxford · Masconomet	Salem School District
High school in town	Masconomet Regional High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.