What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the highest household income ($166k).

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	Reading
People
Population	44,795Highest	25,612Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Reading 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%	66.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA
	Reading and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$9,320Highest 56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	3.2%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.4%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	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#50 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Reading
High school in town	Salem High	Reading Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.1Highest
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.