What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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	Northfield	Salem
People
Population	2,872Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$375,800±$31kLowest 33% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 8% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.5%±10.3Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Northfield 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	#231 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Pioneer Valley	Salem
High school in town	Pioneer Valley Regional	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Highest	9.8Lowest
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.