What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).

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	North Andover	Salem
People
Population	31,490Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±2Lowest about the U.S. average	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and North Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,670±$9kHighest 74% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$732,900±$37kHighest 120% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,223±$223Highest 57% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,767Highest 149% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Andover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	20.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Andover 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	#98 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	North Andover	Salem School District
High school in town	North Andover High	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.3Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.