Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter 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%).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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 | Exeter | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
16,151Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest 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% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Exeter 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% 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. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,764±$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. |
$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% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% 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% |
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. |
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. |
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% |
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 | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Exeter High School | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.