What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

Middleborough has the most kids (18.8% 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	Middleborough
People
Population	30,964Highest	24,505Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	43.4±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough 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%	18.8%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Middleborough 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%	21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Middleborough 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	32%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.	$97,056±$7kLowest 20% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough 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.	$468,700±$18kLowest 41% above U.S.
	Salem and Middleborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.	$1,706±$72Highest 21% above U.S.
	Middleborough and Salem 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.	$6,023Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.2%±11.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Middleborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	76.9%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%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.6%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Middleborough 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	#170 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	Middleborough
High school in town	Salem High School	Middleborough High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.3Highest
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.