Compare towns
Beverly vs Maynard vs Stow 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).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Maynard | Stow | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
10,712 |
7,165Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Maynard and Stow 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% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Stow 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% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem and Maynard 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 |
$8,266 38% 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% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Maynard 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 | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | — | Nashoba | 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.