What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hudson has the most homeowners (68%).

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	Hudson
People
Population	44,795Highest	15,719Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	17.8%±2.6Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hudson 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%	21.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson 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%	43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$90,524±$9kHighest 13% below MA
	Hudson 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	$473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,597Highest 10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	6.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Hudson 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	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	—
High school in town	Salem High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.