Compare towns

Cornwall vs Marblehead 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

Cornwall has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

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.

MeasureCornwallMarbleheadSalem
People
Population
1,208Lowest
20,413
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.4±4.6Highest
30% above U.S.
49.1±2
26% above U.S.
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Cornwall and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.7%±3
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Marblehead and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.7%±6.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.7%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Cornwall and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$114,583±$32k
42% above U.S.
$182,132±$28kHighest
126% above U.S.
$85,153±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$458,000±$49kLowest
38% above U.S.
$943,900±$31kHighest
184% above U.S.
$542,800±$18k
63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$206Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,764±$147
25% above U.S.
$1,836±$84Highest
30% above U.S.
Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,726
116% above U.S.
$8,309Highest
166% above U.S.
$6,114Lowest
96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.9%±65.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.9%±4.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Cornwall and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
0.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Highest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1944
36 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
11% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
29 min
8% above U.S.
Work from home
24.4%±6.6
U.S.: 15.1%
34%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.6%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Marblehead and Cornwall 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 — #47 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Salem
High school in town None in town — Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 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.