What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most kids (15.7% under 18).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	44,795Highest	5,656Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Salisbury 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%	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Salisbury 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	$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA
	Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average
	Salem and Salisbury 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	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury 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 MA: 10%	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	65.5%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	30 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Salisbury 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	#240 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 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.