Compare towns
Beverly vs Heath vs Plainfield 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 expensive homes ($650k median).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Heath | Plainfield | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
765 |
616Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
53.8±11.9Highest 35% above MA |
50.6±9.5 27% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Heath and Plainfield 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% |
13.1%±2.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
33.6%±8.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Heath and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±2.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$98,750±$23k 5% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Beverly and Heath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$295,000±$45kLowest 48% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
— | $1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Beverly 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 |
$4,438Lowest 26% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% MA: 10% |
6.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
88.3% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.7%±17.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Heath and Plainfield 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 | — | — | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | — | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | — | 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.