Compare towns
Nelson vs Peabody 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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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 | Peabody | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
54,695Highest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Peabody and Nelson 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% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Nelson and Peabody 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 |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,114Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #228 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Peabody | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
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.