What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Millbury has the most homeowners (75.4%).

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	Millbury
People
Population	44,795Highest	13,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	42.6±3.1Highest 7% above MA
	Millbury 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%	20.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Millbury 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%	36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$450,100±$19kLowest 20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,623±$232Lowest 8% below MA
	Salem and Millbury 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	$5,406Lowest 10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	43.5%±12.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Millbury 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	75.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	14.8%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#202 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Millbury
High school in town	Salem High	Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.3Highest
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.