Compare towns
Salem vs Dublin vs Peabody
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 most renters (50.3% rent).
Dublin has the most homeowners (83.2%).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k 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 | Dublin | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
1,688Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.3±8.4Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.3±2.4 16% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Dublin and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dublin and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$104,659±$14kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$96,657±$4k 20% above U.S. |
| Dublin and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$596,200±$12kHighest 79% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,950±$99Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Peabody and Salem 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. |
$8,165Highest 162% above U.S. |
$5,065Lowest 62% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Peabody and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Highest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±10.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dublin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | — | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Contoocook Valley School District | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | None in town | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.