Compare towns
Beverly vs Hull vs Lenox 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 kids (18.5% under 18).
Hull has the most homeowners (79.6%).
Lenox has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Hull | Lenox | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
10,138 |
5,079Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly and Salem 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% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Hull and Lenox 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 |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Beverly and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Hull and Salem 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$5,299Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8Lowest 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Hull | Lenox | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Hull High | Lenox Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
8.8 |
7.6Lowest |
9.8 |
| 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.