What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).

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	Hanson
People
Population	44,795Highest	10,660Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	42.8±3Highest 7% above MA
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hanson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.6%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA
	Salem and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA
	Salem and Hanson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,402Highest 7% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Hanson 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 MA: 10%	2.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	89%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#149 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Whitman-Hanson
High school in town	Salem High	Whitman Hanson Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.7Highest
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.