What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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	Dalton
People
Population	44,795Highest	6,256Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dalton 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%	27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA	$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA
	Salem and Dalton 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	$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$4,276Lowest 29% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Dalton 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%	7.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	70.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	22 minLowest 24% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Dalton 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	#192 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Central Berkshire
High school in town	Salem High	Wahconah Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.9Highest
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.