What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.7%).

Washington has the highest household income ($95k).

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	Washington
People
Population	1,054Highest	526Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	55.6±2.4Lowest 39% above MA	56.5±7.7Highest 41% above MA
	Washington and New Salem 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%	13.3%±5.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	New Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±6.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	35.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	New Salem and Washington 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	$95,278±$12kHighest 8% below MA
	Washington 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±$40kLowest 36% below MA	$370,700±$32kHighest 34% below MA
	Washington and New Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,194±$88 32% below MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,509Highest 25% below MA	$4,381Lowest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	86.7%±25.8Highest MA: 51.8%	0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	New Salem and Washington 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%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Lowest MA: 62.5%	92.5%Highest 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	25 minHighest 13% below MA
Work from home	19.4%±8Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	New Salem and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.