What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

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	Worcester	Salem
People
Population	207,055Highest	44,795Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$6,114Highest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Salem and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	12.1%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	29 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#266 of 282 in MA	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Salem
High school in town	South High Community	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.