What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).

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	Plainfield
People
Population	44,795Highest	616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Plainfield 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%	29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA	$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA
	Salem and Plainfield 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	$4,458Lowest 26% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%	16.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	98%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	38 minHighest 30% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6%
	Plainfield 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	—
School district	Salem	—
High school in town	Salem High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.