Compare towns
Lenox vs Salem vs Hull
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Salem | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079Lowest |
44,795Highest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3Highest 50% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8 40% above MA |
| Lenox and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Salem and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 40.1%±7.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
| Hull and Lenox are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $466,700±$43kLowest 17% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
| Hull and Salem 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 |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$6,089 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Hull 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 | #90 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Salem | Hull |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Salem High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
8.8 |
| 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.