What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	Pepperell	Salem
People
Population	11,663Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Highest 12% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 16% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Salem
High school in town	None in town	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
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.