What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).

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	Pepperell
People
Population	44,795Highest	11,663Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	42.4±3.3Highest 6% above MA
	Pepperell 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%	20.1%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Pepperell and Salem 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%	18.2%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Pepperell 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%	43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$124,073±$12kHighest 19% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$482,100±$14kLowest 14% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,295±$238Lowest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,698Highest 12% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Pepperell 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	84.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	18.1%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Pepperell 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	#153 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	North Middlesex
High school in town	Salem High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.