Compare towns
Beverly vs Hingham vs Wenham vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Wenham has the youngest population (median age 29.3).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hingham | Wenham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
24,283 |
4,929Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
48.4±2.4Highest 21% above MA |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
23.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hingham and Wenham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% MA: 47.3% |
76.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
70.8% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$178,390±$15k 72% above MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Wenham and Hingham 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 |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 102% above MA |
$885,400±$48k 58% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,465±$603Highest 40% above MA |
— | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Hingham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
60.3%±12Highest MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Hingham 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% |
4.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
80.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
33.1%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hingham and Wenham 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Hingham | Hamilton-Wenham | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Hingham High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.9Highest |
— | 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.