What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).

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	Stoughton
People
Population	44,795Highest	29,225Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Stoughton 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 MA: 17.9%	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Stoughton 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	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA
	Salem and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA
	Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,215Highest 4% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest MA: 10%	8.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	33 minHighest 15% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#196 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Stoughton
High school in town	Salem High	Stoughton High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.8Highest
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.