Compare towns
Canton vs Marblehead vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Canton | Marblehead | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 24,748 |
20,413Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 67.5% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,560 9% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #81 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Marblehead | Salem |
| High school in town | Canton High | Marblehead High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.7 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.