What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hanson has the most kids (21.6% under 18).

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3Lowest 10% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.7%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$132,200±$10kHighest 64% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$533,900±$36kHighest 60% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,821±$860Highest 29% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,402Lowest 105% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69%±33.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	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 U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	7.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#149 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Whitman-Hanson	Salem School District
High school in town	Whitman Hanson Regional	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.7Highest	11.2Lowest
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.