What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Wilbraham has the most homeowners (88.8%).

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	Wilbraham
People
Population	44,795Highest	14,572Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	44.3±2.7Highest 11% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.2%±3.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	23%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$122,051±$14kHighest 17% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA	$416,000±$25kLowest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA	$1,175±$241Lowest 33% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest about the MA average	$6,658Highest 11% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%	53.1%±23.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Wilbraham 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%	4.6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	27 minLowest 9% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	12.9%±3.1Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#88 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Hampden-Wilbraham
High school in town	Salem High	Minnechaug Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	14.2Highest
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.