Compare towns
Webster vs Salem vs New Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
New Durham has the oldest population (median age 46.5).
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 | Webster | Salem | New Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
44,795Highest |
2,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.5±7.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Durham and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$100,194±$13k 24% above U.S. |
| Webster and New Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$339,400±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,417±$116 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021 93% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,774Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±42.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Webster 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Salem | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.