What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has the most affordable homes ($257k median).

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	Pittsfield	Salem
People
Population	43,457Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.4±2Highest 6% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
	Pittsfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Pittsfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Pittsfield 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	6.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,582±$5kLowest 32% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,148Lowest 31% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±5.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.9%Highest MA: 10%	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 36% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	10.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#251 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Pittsfield	Salem
High school in town	Taconic High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.3Lowest	9.8Highest
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.