What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most homeowners (85.7%).

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	Hampden	Salem
People
Population	7,896Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Highest 5% above U.S.	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hampden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	Salem
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	9.8Lowest
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.