What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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	Needham
People
Population	30,964Lowest	32,459Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Salem and Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Needham 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.	$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S.	$2,409±$183Highest 70% above 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%	55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	Needham
High school in town	Salem High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.