What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).

Salem has the most kids (15.7% 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	Salisbury	Salem
People
Population	5,656Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	51±6.9Highest 28% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,469±$7kHighest 11% below MA	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
	Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,770±$444Lowest about the MA average	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
	Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,561Lowest 24% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.6%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	65.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	19.7%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Salem and Salisbury 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	#240 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Salem
High school in town	—	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

MA 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.