What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).

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	Dover	Salem
People
Population	5,930Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.9±2.3Highest 15% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	26%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	84.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$250,001Highest 210% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,340,300±$117kHighest 303% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,917±$2kHighest 106% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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	20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	34.2%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#1 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Dover · Dover-Sherborn	Salem School District
High school in town	Dover-Sherborn Regional High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.2Highest
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.