Compare towns
Beverly vs Sutton vs Acton vs Salem
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 youngest population (median age 39).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Sutton | Acton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 42,665 |
9,452Lowest |
24,155 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Sutton 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% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Acton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$523,100±$47kLowest 7% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Acton and Salem 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 |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 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% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Sutton | Acton-Boxborough | Salem |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Sutton High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.6 |
13.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.