What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Marlborough	Salem
People
Population	41,647Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
	Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,968±$9kHighest 12% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	56%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#215 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough	Salem
High school in town	Assabet Valley Vocational High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.1Highest	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.