Compare towns
Salem vs Hull 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 renters (50.3% rent).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Peabody has the most kids (18.7% under 18).
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 | Hull | Peabody |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
10,138Lowest |
54,695Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% above MA |
45.3±2.4 13% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Peabody 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 MA: 17.9% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hull and Peabody 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% |
50.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$646,000±$38kHighest 15% above MA |
$596,200±$12k 6% above MA |
| Hull 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 |
$2,081±$187Highest 18% above MA |
$1,950±$99 11% above MA |
| Hull 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 |
$6,089 about the MA average |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14Lowest MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Peabody 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 MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #228 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Hull | Peabody |
| High school in town | Salem High | Hull High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
8.8Lowest |
10.3Highest |
| 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.