What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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	Springfield
People
Population	44,795Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Springfield
High school in town	Salem High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.2Highest
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.