Compare towns
Salem vs Needham 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 the most affordable homes ($543k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Marblehead has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Needham | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
32,459 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
| Needham and Marblehead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$943,900±$31k 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Salem High | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.9Highest |
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| 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.