Compare towns
Salem vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
6,758Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
39±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%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% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$106,044±$7kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Beverly and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$650,300±$13kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below 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 | $6,114 96% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$6,836Highest 119% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Beverly 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
60.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 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% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Beverly 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Inter-Lakes High School | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1 |
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.