Compare towns
Salem vs Hampton vs Beverly
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).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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 | Hampton | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
16,426Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Beverly and Salem 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,771±$106 25% above U.S. |
| Salem and Beverly 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. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1956 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Beverly and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Winnacunnet High School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
10.1 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.