What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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	Durham	Salem
People
Population	4,262Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±5.9Highest 10% above U.S.	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,181±$5kHighest 23% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$322,200±$34kLowest 3% below U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,836±$84 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,781Lowest 21% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	20.9%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Durham 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	#14 of 133 in ME	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 05	Salem
High school in town	None in town	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.