Compare towns
Salem vs Everett vs Beverly vs Norwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Beverly has the most homeowners (60.1%).
Norwood has the highest household income ($107k).
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 | Everett | Beverly | Norwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795 |
50,045Highest |
42,665 |
31,542Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
| Salem and Beverly 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% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Norwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Norwood 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% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$107,030±$11kHighest about the MA average |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$651,700±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Norwood and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,771±$106Lowest about the MA average |
$2,116±$83Highest 20% above MA |
| Norwood and Everett 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 |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$6,111 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
54.3%±7.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #176 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Everett | Beverly | Norwood |
| High school in town | Salem High | Everett High | Beverly High | Norwood High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.