What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

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	Haverhill	Salem
People
Population	67,698Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Haverhill and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kLowest 36% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
	Salem and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Haverhill and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	Salem School District
High school in town	Haverhill High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.