What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Lenox	Salem
People
Population	5,079Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.3%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,080±$31kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Lenox and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,299Lowest 12% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.5%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 22% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Lenox	Salem
High school in town	Lenox Memorial High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	7.6Lowest	9.8Highest
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.