What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Salem has the most kids (14.5% under 18).

Warwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (0%).

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	New Salem	Warwick
People
Population	1,054Highest	776Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	0%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±2.4Highest 39% above MA	51.4±7.3Lowest 29% above MA
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.5%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%	9.9%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±6.5Highest MA: 17.9%	23.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	40.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,688±$19kLowest 23% below MA	$93,333±$22kHighest 10% below MA
	Warwick and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$359,000±$40kHighest 36% below MA	$349,400±$34kLowest 38% below MA
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$88Lowest 32% below MA	$1,367±$163Highest 22% below MA
	Warwick and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,509Highest 25% below MA	$4,380Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%	33.3%±57.3Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem and Warwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.7%Highest MA: 10%	5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89% MA: 62.5%	89% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 9 yrs newer than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 20% below MA	40 minHighest 37% above MA
Work from home	19.4%±8Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.4%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Warwick and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	—	Warwick
High school in town	—	None in town
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.