What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).

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	Fairhaven
People
Population	44,795Highest	15,903Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	16.9%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Fairhaven 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%	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	32.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA
	Fairhaven 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	$446,700±$19kLowest 21% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Fairhaven 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%	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 min about the MA average	29 min about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	11.4%±3.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#126 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Fairhaven
High school in town	Salem High	Fairhaven High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.4Highest
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.