Compare towns
Peabody vs Whitman 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).
Whitman has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
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 | Peabody | Whitman | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 54,695Highest |
15,295Lowest |
44,795 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Whitman 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% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| Whitman 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 |
$472,700±$12kLowest 16% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,771±$151Lowest about the MA average |
$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 | $5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Peabody 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.6% MA: 62.5% |
71.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #228 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Peabody | Whitman-Hanson | Salem |
| High school in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | None in town | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.