What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).

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	Lowell	Salem
People
Population	118,368Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40 15% above U.S.	$1,625±$146 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lowell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 6% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#255 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Lowell	Salem School District
High school in town	Lowell High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	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.