Compare towns
Beverly vs Rye vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
5,611Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rye 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±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Beverly 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Rye School District | 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 |
U.S. 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.