Compare towns
Beverly vs Salem vs Stoughton
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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Stoughton has the most homeowners (74.1%).
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 | Stoughton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
44,795Highest |
29,225Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
45.7±1.9Highest 14% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.8%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Stoughton and Beverly 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% |
41.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$104,794±$6k about the MA average |
| Beverly and Stoughton 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$523,800±$28kLowest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,050±$200Highest 16% above MA |
| Stoughton and Salem 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 |
$6,215 4% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.4%±7.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stoughton 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
15.4%±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 | #196 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Salem | Stoughton |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Salem High | Stoughton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.8 |
| 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.