What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Conway has the most homeowners (93.4%).

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	Conway
People
Population	44,795Highest	1,755Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-7.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	55.6±3Highest 39% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.5%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Conway and Salem 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%	31.9%±4.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	60.5%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.6%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$97,250±$11kHighest 6% below MA
	Conway 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	$395,900±$25kLowest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,800±$990Lowest about the MA average
	Salem and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$5,797Lowest 3% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	23.9%±33.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Conway 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%	4.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	93.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 18% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.1%±8.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Conway 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	—
School district	Salem	Conway
High school in town	Salem High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.