What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newtown has the most people working from home (31.6%).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($404k 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	Newtown	Salem
People
Population	1,898Lowest	4,282Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4% CT: +0.9%	—
Median age	43.7±2.1Highest 6% above CT	40.9±5.4Lowest about the CT average
	Newtown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±2.7Lowest CT: 20.2%	23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2%
	Salem and Newtown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±2.8Highest CT: 18.5%	19.7%±4.7Lowest CT: 18.5%
	Newtown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest CT: 42.5%	50.6%Lowest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.3Lowest CT: 7.1%	5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1%
	Salem and Newtown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$164,821±$27kHighest 72% above CT	$123,245±$8kLowest 29% above CT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,200±$38kHighest 43% above CT	$403,600±$33kLowest 10% above CT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,023±$538Highest 36% above CT	$1,440±$150Lowest 3% below CT
	Newtown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$9,046Highest 36% above CT	$6,668Lowest about the CT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.9%±38.1Highest CT: 52.6%	32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6%
	Newtown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2%Lowest CT: 10%	6.2%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest CT: 66.5%	86.6%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 4 yrs older than CT	1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the CT average	32 minHighest 19% above CT
Work from home	31.6%±5.6Highest CT: 16%	18%±9.6Lowest CT: 16%
	Newtown and Salem 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	#27 of 149 in CT	#11 of 149 in CT
School district	—	Salem School District
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.