What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Salem has the most homeowners (49.7%).

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	Malden	Salem
People
Population	65,906Highest	44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.8±1Lowest 11% below MA	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Malden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Malden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,995Lowest 17% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.8%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Malden 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	#184 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Malden	Salem
High school in town	Malden High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Highest	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.