Compare towns
Beverly vs Chilmark vs Dover 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 youngest population (median age 39).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Chilmark | Dover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,578Lowest |
2,308 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
47.5±4 19% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Chilmark and Dover 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% |
16.7%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Beverly and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149k 133% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
— | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Chilmark and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Chilmark 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 | — | #1 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Up-Island Regional | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | None in town | — | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 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.