What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lynnfield has the highest household income ($175k).

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	Lynnfield	Salem
People
Population	13,064Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.4±2.1Highest 4% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Lynnfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	28%±4.2Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Lynnfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	62.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$175,265±$23kHighest 69% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$917,600±$31kHighest 63% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,676±$219Highest 52% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	69.2%±21.9Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Lynnfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 10% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	27.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Lynnfield 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	#27 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Lynnfield	Salem
High school in town	Lynnfield High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Highest	9.8Lowest
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.