Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter vs Beverly vs Marblehead
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Beverly has the youngest population (median age 39).
Marblehead has the highest household income ($182k).
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 | Exeter | Beverly | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
16,151Lowest |
42,665 |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Beverly 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7k 31% above U.S. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13k 95% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,836 119% above U.S. |
$8,309 166% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Beverly 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% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1944 36 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Beverly | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Exeter High School | Beverly High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.