Compare towns

Marblehead vs Georgetown vs Salem

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Georgetown has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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.

MeasureMarbleheadGeorgetownSalem
People
Population
20,413
8,474Lowest
44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+3.5%
MA: +7.4%
+7.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
42.8±3.5
7% above MA
39.3±1.5Lowest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
22.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
23.5%±3.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
15.7%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Georgetown and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
18.5%±2.9
MA: 17.9%
17.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Marblehead and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
56.1%
MA: 47.3%
47.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±1.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
8.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$151,595±$23k
46% above MA
$85,153±$5kLowest
18% below MA
Marblehead and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$651,200±$23k
16% above MA
$542,800±$18kLowest
3% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,764±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,223±$506Highest
26% above MA
$1,836±$84
4% above MA
Georgetown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$7,272
21% above MA
$6,114Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
53.7%±22.5
MA: 51.8%
54.9%±4.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Salem and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
MA: 10%
3.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
12.1%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
84%
MA: 62.5%
49.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1944
20 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
13% above MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
Work from home
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
20.2%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.6%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #47 of 282 in MA #140 of 282 in MA #248 of 282 in MA
School district Marblehead Georgetown Salem
High school in town Marblehead High Georgetown High School Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Highest
9.3Lowest
9.8
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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.