What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has the highest household income ($106k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Beverly	Salem
People
Population	42,665Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average
	Salem and Beverly 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%	15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.7Lowest 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%	47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average	$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	$6,114Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	54.9%±4.8Lowest 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%Lowest MA: 10%	12.1%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	29 minLowest about the MA average
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±2.5Lowest 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	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Salem
High school in town	Beverly High	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.