Compare towns
Salem vs Plainfield 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 most renters (50.3% rent).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (98%).
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 | Plainfield | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
616Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Plainfield and Beverly 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% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$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 |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | — | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | — | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.