What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k 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	Gardner	Salem
People
Population	21,148Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Gardner and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Gardner and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest MA: 10%	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#273 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Salem
High school in town	Gardner High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.