What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pinehurst has the most homeowners (97.4%).

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	Pinehurst	Salem
People
Population	6,845Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2Highest 7% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$623,800±$22kHighest 11% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,316Highest 5% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32%±58.1Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	97.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 7% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Salem
High school 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.