Compare towns
Salem vs Central Falls vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Central Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
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 | Central Falls | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
22,701 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
32.5±2.3Lowest 16% below U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Central Falls and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
10.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$49,285±$8kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$352,100±$30kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,200±$75Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$3,744Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.7%±8.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Central Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
24.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
25.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Highest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Highest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #38 of 38 in RI | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Learning Community · Segue Institute for Learning | — |
| High school in town | Salem High | Central Falls Sr High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.