Compare towns
Salem vs Lee vs Marblehead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Lee | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
5,719Lowest |
20,413 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.1±2 23% above MA |
| Lee and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
| Salem and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114 about the MA average |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #248 of 282 in MA | #209 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Lee | — |
| High school in town | Salem High | Lee Middle/High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Highest |
9.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.