Compare towns
Salem vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Reading | Marblehead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
25,612 |
20,413Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Reading and Marblehead 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% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
| Marblehead and Reading 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 |
$809,000±$22k 44% above MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
| Reading and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$8,309 39% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Salem and Marblehead 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Marblehead and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Reading | Marblehead |
| High school in town | Salem High | Reading Memorial High | Marblehead High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.