Compare towns
Lenox vs Salem vs Nahant
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%).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,079 |
44,795Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.1±4.3 50% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
60.7±2.9Highest 52% above MA |
| Nahant and Lenox 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%±3.1Lowest 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% |
36.2%±6.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Lenox and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±2.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$112,762±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
| Nahant 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 |
$748,800±$99kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$238Lowest 38% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,777±$334 about the MA average |
| Salem and Nahant 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 |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,615Highest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.2%±18.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.5%±17.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 22% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±8.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.7%±5.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Nahant 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 | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lenox | Salem | Nahant |
| High school in town | Lenox Memorial High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 7.6Lowest |
9.8Highest |
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| 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.