What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

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	Lunenburg	Salem
People
Population	11,902Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lunenburg and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kLowest 17% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Lunenburg and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 7% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	Salem
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	9.8Lowest
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.