Compare towns
Mansfield vs Salem vs Beverly
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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 | Mansfield | Salem | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931Lowest |
44,795Highest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
| Salem and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Salem | Beverly |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Salem High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.