Compare towns
Beverly vs Boston vs Everett vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most homeowners (60.1%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
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 | Beverly | Boston | Everett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665Lowest |
666,442Highest |
50,045 |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Beverly and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Boston Latin School | Everett High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
18.7Highest |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.