What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	44,795Highest	22,233Lowest
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	41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S.
	Smithfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Smithfield 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%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield 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%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Salem	Smithfield
High school in town	Salem High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	11.8Highest
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.