What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).

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	Ashby
People
Population	30,964Highest	3,211Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.	50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	43.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.	$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S.
	Ashby and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Salem and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ashby 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	#38 of 120 in NH	#200 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Salem High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.