Compare towns
Beverly vs Salem vs Wenham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Wenham has the highest household income ($195k).
Wenham is a college town. 27.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Wenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665 |
44,795Highest |
4,929Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
29.3±9.3Lowest 27% 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% |
18.9%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Wenham and Beverly 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%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±3Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
27.8%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$194,781±$33kHighest 87% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$885,400±$48kHighest 58% above 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 | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
43.3%±20.8Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 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%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±5.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wenham 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #74 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Salem | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.