What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	9,281Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%	13.1%±2.9Lowest 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%	25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9%
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%	4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$93,361±$6kHighest 10% 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	$478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA
	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	$4,604Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	61.9%±11.5Highest 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%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	71.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	19.8%±5.8Lowest 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	Triton
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.