What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Webster has the most kids (21.8% under 18).

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	Webster
People
Population	44,795Highest	12,228Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	37.2±2.1Lowest 7% below MA
	Salem and Webster 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%	21.8%±3.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	15.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Webster 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%	18.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	6%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Webster 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	$63,837±$8kLowest 39% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$333,100±$14kLowest 41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,198±$85Lowest 32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Highest about the MA average	$3,234Lowest 46% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46.1%±7.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Webster 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%	16%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	45.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	7.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#271 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.