What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	2,611Highest	531Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.5±4.2Highest 22% above U.S.	45.1±2.7Lowest 16% above U.S.
	Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22%	20%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$83,398±$12kHighest 3% above U.S.	$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S.	$290,700±$37kHighest 13% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S.	$1,732±$232Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Lowest 25% above U.S.	$5,000Highest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.1%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	47.8%±94.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	28 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	20.6%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Brookline 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	#376 of 484 in NY	—
School district	SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT	—
High school in town	SALEM HIGH SCHOOL	—
Students per teacherat that high school	8.5	—
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.