Compare towns
Lee vs Marblehead vs Salem vs Lenox
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most affordable homes ($353k median).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).
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 | Lee | Marblehead | Salem | Lenox |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
20,413 |
44,795Highest |
5,079Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 38% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
52.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$106,080±$31k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$466,700±$43k 17% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$5,299 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
23 min 22% below MA |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #209 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #90 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Marblehead | Salem | Lenox |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Marblehead High | Salem High | Lenox Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2 |
10.7Highest |
9.8 |
7.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 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.