What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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	Everett
People
Population	44,795Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Everett 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	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
	Everett 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	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 26 yrs older than MA	1938 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Everett
High school in town	Salem High	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.1Highest
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.