Compare towns
Marblehead vs Rye vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Rye has the oldest population (median age 55.1).
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 | Marblehead | Rye | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413 |
5,611Lowest |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2 26% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31k 184% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
| Rye and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Rye 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #2 of 120 in NH | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Rye School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.