What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% under 18).

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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	Middleborough	Salem
People
Population	24,505Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Middleborough	Salem School District
High school in town	Middleborough High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.