What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).

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	Easthampton	Salem
People
Population	16,086Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+7.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Easthampton 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	#92 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	Salem
High school in town	Easthampton High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	9.8
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.