Compare towns
Salem vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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 | Dalton | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
6,256Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Dalton and Marblehead 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| 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 about the MA average |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Marblehead 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% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1957Highest 7 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Central Berkshire | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Wahconah Regional High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.9Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.