Compare towns
Salem vs Canton vs Marblehead
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).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Canton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
24,748 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+13%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.6±2.3 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.9%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Canton and Marblehead 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% |
18.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Canton 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% |
67.5% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$143,381±$9k 38% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$710,600±$27k 26% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,315±$178Highest 31% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,560 9% above MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Canton 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% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | — |
| High school in town | Salem High | Canton High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
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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.