What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoughton	Salem
People
Population	29,225Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Salem and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,794±$6kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
	Salem and Stoughton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA
	Stoughton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,215Highest 4% above MA	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.4%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 15% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	15.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#196 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Stoughton	Salem
High school in town	Stoughton High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.