What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).

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	699Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Reading 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 U.S.: 17.2%	28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 5% above U.S.	$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Salem and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.	$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.	$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Reading and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Reading 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	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	Salem High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.