What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).

Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Wenham
People
Population	44,795Highest	4,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average	29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA
	Salem and Wenham 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%	18.9%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wenham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Salem and Wenham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	70.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84 4% above MA	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Wenham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1961Highest 3 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%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Wenham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#74 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Hamilton-Wenham
High school in town	Salem High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8	—
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.