What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Clinton	Salem
People
Population	15,563Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.6±2.7Lowest 4% below MA	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
	Salem and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.8%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Clinton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Clinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,781±$10kHighest 14% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Clinton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$387,300±$19kLowest 31% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,402±$76Lowest 20% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,654Lowest 22% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±6.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	14.2%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#246 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Clinton	Salem
High school in town	Clinton Senior High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.