Compare towns
Salem vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (52.4%).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||
| People | ||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
2,056Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
63.7±3.5Highest 59% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
8.4%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
47%±7.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$146,250±$67kHighest 41% above MA |
| Stockbridge 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±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$600,000±$99kHighest 7% above MA |
| Stockbridge and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$858±$375Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,652Lowest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.8%±27Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stockbridge 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% |
7.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
52.4%±19.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 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 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.