What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boylston has the highest household income ($141k).

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	Boylston	Salem
People
Population	4,948Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.2±2.3Highest 21% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Boylston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Boylston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,962±$28kHighest 36% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$578,600±$47kHighest about the MA average	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
	Boylston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,032±$350Highest 15% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Boylston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,266Highest 21% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	79.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 8% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	22.7%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Boylston 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	#72 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Berlin-Boylston	Salem
High school in town	Tahanto Regional High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	9.8Lowest
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.