Compare towns
Beverly vs Salem vs Springfield
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 highest household income ($106k).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Salem | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Lowest |
44,795 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| 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%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Beverly 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Salem | Springfield |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Salem High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.