What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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	Norton	Salem
People
Population	19,240Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.6±1.2Highest about the MA average	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Norton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.3%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Norton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$501,400±$27kLowest 11% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Norton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,929Lowest about the MA average	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.6%±8.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 12% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Norton	Salem
High school in town	Norton High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.9Highest	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.