Compare towns
Beverly vs Northbridge 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).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
16,458Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Northbridge and Beverly 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 |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% 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 |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Northbridge | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Northbridge High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.8 |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.