What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bourne has the most homeowners (75.8%).

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	Bourne
People
Population	44,795Highest	20,323Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	52±1.8Highest 30% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	46%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.6%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA
	Bourne 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±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$575,600±$28kHighest about the MA average
	Bourne and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$4,485Lowest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Bourne and Salem 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%	6.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	14.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#206 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Salem High	Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	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.