Compare towns
Peabody vs Ayer vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Peabody has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Peabody | Ayer | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
8,645Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Ayer and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,065 15% below MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #228 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Ayer Shirley School District | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
11.5Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | None yet |
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.