What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

Freeport has the most homeowners (77.6%).

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	Freeport
People
Population	44,795Highest	8,802Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Freeport 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 U.S.: 17.2%	26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Freeport 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 5% above U.S.	$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S.
	Freeport 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 63% above U.S.	$508,400±$76kLowest 53% above U.S.
	Salem and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.	$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Freeport and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.2%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Freeport 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	#4 of 133 in ME
School district	Salem	RSU 05
High school in town	Salem High	Freeport High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.