What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Salem	Ayer
People
Population	44,795Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Salem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average
	Ayer and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	10.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Salem High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	12 photos →

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.