Compare towns
Beverly vs Springfield vs Temple vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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.
| Measure | Beverly | Springfield | Temple | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
1,122Lowest |
1,363 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Temple are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Springfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$100,893±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$94,107±$15k 17% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$384,100±$50kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$401,000±$27k 21% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,169±$523 17% below U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 119% above U.S. |
$5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,983Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.2%±54.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Contoocook Valley School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | — | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | — | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.