Compare towns
Salem vs Bourne vs Peabody
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Bourne has the most homeowners (75.8%).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Salem | Bourne | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
20,323Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody and Salem 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% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46% MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$91,058±$7k 12% below MA |
$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA |
| Peabody and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
| Peabody and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,379±$300Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% 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 | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Peabody 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% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest about the MA average |
26 min 11% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #206 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
9.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.