What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

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	Bath
People
Population	44,795Highest	8,815Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.	$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S.
	Salem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.	$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.	1938 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	24 minLowest 9% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Bath 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	#248 of 282 in MA	#31 of 133 in ME
School district	Salem	RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town	Salem High	Morse High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.