Compare towns
Beverly vs Salem vs Wareham
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).
Wareham has the most homeowners (83.5%).
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 | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
44,795Highest |
23,302Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$90,383±$11k 13% below MA |
| Beverly and Wareham 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 |
$424,500±$21kLowest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,504±$180Lowest 15% 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 3% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest 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 | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Salem | Wareham |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Salem High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8 |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.