Compare towns
Lancaster 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
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Marblehead | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,606Lowest |
20,413 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Marblehead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Marblehead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,100±$60kLowest 8% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,235 21% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Marblehead | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | Marblehead High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.