What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most kids (21% 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	Townsend
People
Population	30,964Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S.
	Salem and Townsend 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%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Townsend and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Townsend 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.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Salem and Townsend 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.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Salem High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.1Highest
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.