Compare towns
Marblehead vs Salem vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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 | Marblehead | Salem | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,413Lowest |
30,964Highest |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Marblehead | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | Marblehead High | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— |
| 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.