Community & Data
New Salem Demographics
A Portrait of New Salem
New Salem spreads 983 people across nearly 45 square miles of hill country, which works out to about 22 residents to the square mile, and the census numbers describe a town of homeowners: 89.0 percent of its housing units are owner-occupied, households average 2.4 people, and the median household income is $79,688. Almost one resident in four is 65 or over, and about one in seven is under 18. Figures below are from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Follow the source links for the latest.
Key Figures
Sources: US Census Bureau (data.census.gov), American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020-2024.
Population & Households
- Population (2020 Census): 983
- Households: 437
- Persons per household: 2.4
- Foreign-born: 3.4% of residents
- Age 65 and over: 23.7%
- Under 18: 14.5%
Race & Ethnicity
- White: 79.5%
- Asian: 0.5%
- Black or African American: 0.9%
- Hispanic or Latino (any race): 3.0%
- Two or more races: 11.9%
- Speak a language other than English at home: 4.5%
Economy & Housing
- Median household income: $79,688
- Poverty rate: 9.7%
- Median home value: $359,000
- Median gross rent: $1,194
- Homeownership: 89.0% of units
- In the labor force: 68.2%
Registered Voters
Massachusetts publishes voter-registration counts by town through the Secretary of the Commonwealth; the counts below are the state’s enrollment snapshot from August 22, 2026. As in most of the state, New Salem’s largest bloc by far is voters who choose no party at all.
- Total registered: 907
- Unenrolled (no party): 638 (70.34%)
- Democrats: 181 (19.96%)
- Republicans: 80 (8.82%)
- Political designations: 8 (0.88%)
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, data.census.gov
- MA Secretary of the Commonwealth, Voter Registration
- MA DESE, New Salem
- Secretary of the Commonwealth, Massachusetts Elections Calendar: August 22, 2026 was the last day to register to vote and change party enrollment for the September 1, 2026 state primary (G. L. c. 51, sections 26 and 28), which is the date this enrollment count is as of.
See how New Salem fits into the broader Commonwealth.