What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±3.3Lowest 9% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Pepperell and Salem 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 54% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	North Middlesex	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
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.