What stands out worked out from the figures below

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).

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	Needham	Salem
People
Population	32,459Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#19 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Needham	Salem School District
High school in town	Needham High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Highest	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.