What stands out worked out from the figures below

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Norwood	Salem
People
Population	31,542Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
	Salem and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Norwood and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,111Lowest about the MA average	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 4% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#176 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Norwood	Salem
High school in town	Norwood High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Highest	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.