Compare towns
Beverly vs Norfolk 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Norfolk has the highest household income ($201k).
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 | Norfolk | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
11,673Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Norfolk and Salem 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% |
24.4%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.8%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Salem 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% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$200,720±$22kHighest 93% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$725,200±$34kHighest 29% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,019±$598Highest 15% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Norfolk 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 |
$9,651Highest 61% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±16Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Norfolk 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% |
2.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
94.9%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 |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
32.6%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | King Philip · Millis | 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 |
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.