What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Hanson	Salem
People
Population	10,660Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Highest 7% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 15% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Salem
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.