What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Norwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Norwood
People
Population	44,795Highest	31,542Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average
	Salem and Norwood 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%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.6%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Norwood 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%	55.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$6,111Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Norwood 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%	8.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	54%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1960Highest 4 yrs older 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%	16.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#176 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Norwood
High school in town	Salem High	Norwood High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.5Highest
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.