What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

Peabody has the most homeowners (65.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Salem	Peabody
People
Population	44,795Lowest	54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average	45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Lowest 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%	24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	35%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA	$96,657±$4kHighest 7% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 3% below MA	$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Lowest 4% above MA	$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA
	Peabody and Salem 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	$5,065Lowest 15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest 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%	7.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	65.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	26 minLowest 11% below MA
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#248 of 282 in MA	#228 of 282 in MA
School district	Salem	Peabody
High school in town	Salem High	Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.