Compare towns
Dighton vs Peabody vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.3%).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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.
| Measure | Dighton | Peabody | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,193Lowest |
54,695Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±2.9 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Peabody and Dighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Dighton and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $136,646±$19kHighest 31% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $501,900±$47kLowest 11% below MA |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,405±$192Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,452Highest 8% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.8%±16.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11%±3.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #85 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Bristol County Agricultural · Dighton-Rehoboth | Peabody | Salem |
| High school in town | Bristol County Agricultural High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9Highest |
10.3 |
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.