Signals
Salem
Chillum
Climate
63 · Bottom 27%
vs72 · Top 42%
Physical resilience
78 · Top 27%
vs76 · Top 29%
Housing affordability
52 · Bottom 12%
vs60 · Bottom 20%
Schools
40 · Bottom 35%
vs32 · Bottom 25%
Access
98 · Top 15%
vs89 · Bottom 40%
Economic stability
64 · Top 42%
vs66 · Top 39%
Measured values
| Metric | Salem | Chillum | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,795 | 34,871 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $85,153 | $79,864 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,339 | $32,821 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 5,401/sq mi | 10,332/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $542,800 | $393,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,836 | $1,735 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 49.7% | 39.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 47.8% | 22.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 12.1% | 12.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 82°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 20°F | 30°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.9" | 41.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 11 mi | 22 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.0 min | 40.3 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 39.3 | 35.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.78 | 13.93 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 19.5% | 7.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 36.5% | 13.7% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Massachusetts and Maryland do not give the same test. Each state writes its own assessment and sets its own passing score, so the two proficiency rows above are not directly comparable — the difference between them partly measures which standard is harder. Students per teacher and the school count are unaffected, and each profile ranks its own proficiency within its own state.
Physical risk tradeoff
Salem
Elevated or high exposure: coastal flooding, earthquake, hurricane.
Chillum
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Salem, MA · Chillum, MD · How this is calculated: methodology