Compare towns
Salem vs Beverly vs Topsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Beverly has the youngest population (median age 39).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Salem | Beverly | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
42,665 |
6,564Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.2±1.8Highest 6% above MA |
| Topsfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Topsfield and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% below MA |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,836 14% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1969Highest 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
30 minHighest 3% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Beverly | Topsfield |
| High school in town | Salem High | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.