Compare towns
Salem vs Reading vs Marblehead 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).
Reading has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
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 | Beverly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
25,612 |
20,413Lowest |
42,665 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.2% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 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% |
19.4%±1.7 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% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest 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 |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,764±$147Lowest about the MA average |
$1,771±$106 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 |
$6,836 14% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8 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%Highest MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
9.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
60.1% 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 |
1956 8 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 |
30 min 3% 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% |
22.3%±2.4 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 | #144 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Reading | Marblehead | Beverly |
| High school in town | Salem High | Reading Memorial High | Marblehead High | Beverly High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
12.1 |
10.7 |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.