What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k median).

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	Boxford
People
Population	30,964Highest	8,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.	49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S.
	Boxford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Boxford 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%	70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Boxford and Salem 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.	$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.	$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Boxford and Salem 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%	3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Boxford 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	#34 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	Boxford · Masconomet
High school in town	Salem High School	Masconomet Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.2Highest
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.