What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mashpee has the most homeowners (81.9%).

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	Mashpee
People
Population	44,795Highest	15,384Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	55.9±1.8Highest 40% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Mashpee 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%	33.1%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$95,299±$13kHighest 8% below MA
	Mashpee 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±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$562,200±$29kHighest about the MA average
	Mashpee and Salem 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	$1,776±$330Lowest about the MA average
	Salem and Mashpee 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	$3,762Lowest 37% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	44.7%±14.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Mashpee 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%	5.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	81.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 6% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	14.5%±3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#100 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Mashpee
High school in town	Salem High	Mashpee Middle-High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	9.6Lowest
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.