Compare towns
Salem vs Deerfield 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%).
Deerfield has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Deerfield | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
5,158Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
51.8±3.6Highest 30% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Deerfield and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.2%±3.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Deerfield 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.9%±3.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Deerfield 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 |
$106,136±$14k about the MA average |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$414,900±$37kLowest 26% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,334±$318Lowest 24% 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 |
$5,824Lowest about the MA average |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.1%±15.1Lowest 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% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
78.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 40% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
17.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #156 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Deerfield · Frontier | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Frontier Regional | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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.