Compare towns
Salisbury vs Salem vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most homeowners (71.2%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,281 |
44,795Highest |
5,656Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51±6.9 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest 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+ | 25.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5 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 | $93,361±$6kHighest 10% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$465,900±$31kLowest 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,691±$411Lowest 4% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
| Salem and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,604 23% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Lowest 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 | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Triton | Salem | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High | — |
| 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.