What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	44,795Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average
	Townsend 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 MA: 19.4%	21%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Townsend 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	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA
	Salem and Townsend 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	$6,031Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Townsend 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%	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	37 minHighest 27% above MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	North Middlesex
High school in town	Salem High	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	13.1Highest
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.