Compare towns
Salem vs Lynn vs Beverly
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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
Beverly has the highest household income ($106k).
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 | Lynn | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795 |
101,709Highest |
42,665Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
36.5±1.2Lowest 9% below MA |
39±1.8 about the MA average |
| Salem and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Beverly and Salem 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% |
24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$75,043±$3kLowest 28% below MA |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$510,100±$23kLowest 9% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,722±$60Lowest about the MA average |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
| Salem and Beverly 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 |
$5,384Lowest 10% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% MA: 10% |
13.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Salem 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Lynn | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Lynn English High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
15.0Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.