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