What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Canton
People
Population	44,795Highest	24,748Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+13%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	42.6±2.3Highest 7% above MA
	Canton and Salem 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%	22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	18.8%±2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Canton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	67.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$143,381±$9kHighest 38% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$710,600±$27kHighest 26% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,560Highest 9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Canton 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%	5.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	36 minHighest 23% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.7%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Canton and Salem 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	#81 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton
High school in town	Salem High	Canton High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.