What stands out worked out from the figures below

Millis has the highest household income ($156k).

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	Millis	Salem
People
Population	8,888Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.4±3Highest 16% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.4%±2.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Millis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.5%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$155,996±$9kHighest 50% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,500±$31kHighest 7% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,696±$279Lowest 4% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem and Millis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,344Highest 56% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.5%±16.6Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Millis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.2%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	31 minHighest 5% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	17.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Millis 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	#63 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Millis	Salem
High school in town	Millis High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	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.