Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salem vs Middleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Middleton has the highest household income ($167k).
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.
| Measure | Salisbury | Salem | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281Lowest |
44,795Highest |
9,816 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Middleton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,361±$6k 10% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27kLowest 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411 4% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,407±$284Lowest 20% below MA |
| Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | Middleton |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.