What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marlborough has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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	Marlborough
People
Population	44,795Highest	41,647Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA
	Salem and Marlborough 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%	20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Marlborough 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%	40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.2%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$91,968±$9kHighest 12% below MA
	Marlborough 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	$513,100±$28kLowest 9% below MA
	Salem and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA
	Marlborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$5,747Lowest 4% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Marlborough 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%	9.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	56%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#215 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough
High school in town	Salem High	Assabet Valley Vocational High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.1Highest
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.