What stands out worked out from the figures below

Leverett has the most homeowners (87.2%).

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	Leverett	Salem
People
Population	1,608Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	56±6.4Highest 40% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	13.7%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Leverett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.8%±4.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.1%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,688±$18kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Leverett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$435,500±$35kLowest 23% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,389±$135Lowest 21% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,779Highest 13% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.3%±6.3Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	10%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 9% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	28.5%±5Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Leverett and Salem 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	—	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Leverett	Salem
High school in town	None in town	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.