What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).

Natick has the highest household income ($139k).

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	Natick
People
Population	44,795Highest	36,873Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	43.3±1.4Highest 8% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.2%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.4%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9%
	Natick 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$138,538±$11kHighest 33% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$821,000±$25kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,134±$124Highest 21% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$8,914Highest 49% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	41.7%±6.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	5.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	68.2%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	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	25.1%±1.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Natick and Salem 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	#48 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Natick
High school in town	Salem High	Natick High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.6Highest
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.