What stands out worked out from the figures below

Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

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	Standish	Salem
People
Population	10,662Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Standish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Salem and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Standish and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Standish 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	#18 of 133 in ME	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 06/MSAD 06	Salem School District
High school in town	Bonny Eagle High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.2Lowest
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.