Compare towns
Salem vs Epping vs Marblehead vs Woburn
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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
Woburn has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Epping | Marblehead | Woburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
7,430Lowest |
20,413 |
41,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.3±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Marblehead and Epping 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% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Epping 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 5% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$111,185±$9k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$673,500±$17k 102% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147 25% above U.S. |
$2,221±$77Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$5,354Lowest 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Woburn 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Marblehead and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #169 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Epping School District | Marblehead | Woburn |
| High school in town | Salem High | Epping High School | Marblehead High | Woburn High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
9.3Lowest |
10.7 |
11.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.