Compare towns
Salem vs Everett vs Peabody
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 people working from home (21.6%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Peabody has the most homeowners (65.6%).
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 | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Lowest |
50,045 |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Peabody 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% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Everett and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Everett and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,065 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody and Everett 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% |
7.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Everett | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | Everett High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.3 |
| 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.