What stands out worked out from the figures below

Deerfield has the most homeowners (78.4%).

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	Deerfield	Salem
People
Population	5,158Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Deerfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,136±$14kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,334±$318Lowest 24% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,824Lowest about the MA average	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.1%±15.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	7.8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 40% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Deerfield 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	#156 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Deerfield · Frontier	Salem
High school in town	Frontier Regional	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Highest	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.