Compare towns
Nelson vs Beverly 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
Nelson has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k median).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Nelson | Beverly | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
42,665 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
| Nelson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson and Beverly 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Beverly | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | Beverly High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
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.