Compare towns
Pinehurst vs Salem vs Berkley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pinehurst has the most expensive homes ($624k median).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Berkley has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
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 | Pinehurst | Salem | Berkley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,845 |
44,795Highest |
6,829Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.4±4.1Highest 9% above MA |
| Berkley and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Berkley and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
37.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,250±$27kHighest 41% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$144,205±$49k 39% above MA |
| Pinehurst and Berkley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $623,800±$22kHighest 11% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$511,200±$45kLowest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,946±$1kHighest 10% above MA |
$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
— |
| Pinehurst and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,316Highest 5% above MA |
$6,114 about the MA average |
$6,018Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32%±58.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
0%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Pinehurst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
96.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 7% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
27 min 6% below MA |
| Work from home | 13.1%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.1%±5.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #155 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Salem | Berkley |
| High school in town | — | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.